Green Paige

Since our kitchen is being deconstructed and we no longer have the use of a cook top, I have had to think outside the electric stove when it comes to preparing meals for our family.  One of our family favorites that can be prepared with an electric skillet and the environmentally-friendly slow cooker is Chicken, Ham and Gnocchi Soup.  It’s wonderful for the Winter months because you can use ingredients that are in season and items from last Summer’s garden.  Here’s how:

   

Chicken, Ham and Gnocchi Soup

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

2 tbl sp. olive oil

1 white onion, chopped fine

1/2 C. organic carrot, chopped fine

3/4 C. celery, chopped fine

2 cloves garlic, chopped fine

1/3 C. flour

2 C. milk

4 C. organic chicken broth or fresh chicken stock

1 C. cook and cubed chicken breast

1 C. cubed Black Forest Ham - no nitrates added

Your Choice - add 1/2 C. spinach plus 1/2 C. fresh basil from your garden, cut julienne style OR you can add 1/2 C. pesto made from last Summer’s garden and frozen to use throughout the Winter.  If frozen, defrost before adding to soup.

If you opt for using fresh spinach and basil, make sure you add the following:

1 tsp. fresh rosemary (1/2 tsp. if you use dried)

1 tsp. fresh parsley (1/2 tsp. if you use dried)

1 Russet potato, cubed

16 oz. gnocchi (potato dumpling) 

Add white pepper and salt to taste

   

Directions:

1. In the electric skillet, saute onions, carrots, celery and garlic in olive oil until soft.
2. Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir well.  Cook for 3 minutes while stirring frequently.
3. Add milk and chicken broth to the vegetables.   Our skillet is just deep enough to accommodate this amount of liquid.
4. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil.  Stir frequently.
5. Pour soup into a slow cooker set on high heat.
6. Add chicken, ham, spinach, basil, potatoes and gnocchi.
7. Cook for 30 minutes on high setting then turn to low setting and cook for 1-1 1/2 hours.
8. Season to taste with salt and white pepper.
9. Serve with a Cesar salad and garlic bread.

NOTE:  My husband likes to thicken this soup by substituting half the milk with heavy cream.  Since I don’t like the added calories, I stick with 2% milk.  You choose what works best for you.

   

Do you have slow cooker recipes that you would like to share?  Please send them my way.  It looks like our kitchen will be out of commission for some time.