.creamy gouda and spinach gnocchi.

if you have never tried gnocchi before, do yourself a favor and pick some up. there are lots of ways to enjoy it and gnocchi even cooks more quickly than pasta does. to make this creamy, cheesy gnocchi with spinach, let me take you for a little recipe ride.

heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and add one clove of chopped garlic. in a separate large pot, begin boiling water for your gnocchi.

now, put in your skillet about a cup of fresh spinach. continue to cook it in the garlic oil over medium heat until it becomes cooked through.

in a large skillet, you're going to make a rue. a good friend of mine taught me how to make a rue a couple of years ago and now i love using the method any chance i get. heat three tablespoons of butter, 3/4 cup milk, and about 1/2 cup of flour. stir until you have a paste-like consistency. if it is too thin, add a little more flour gradually. if it is too thick, add a little more milk gradually.

as your rue is coming together, add your seasoning. salt, pepper and herbs. my eye guy and i recently found the cutest little store that sells herbs, coffee, tea, spices, and all kinds of yummies. i was pleased to use some of these herbs for the first time in this tasty little number.

into your creamy rue, shred in your cheese of choice. i used a white chipotle gouda. the chipotle wasn't overwhelming in this particular cheese and just added a hint of smokiness.

taste your creamy, cheesy sauce to see if the flavor is spot on. if it isn't, add a little more of this or that to bring it to the taste you want. stir in your garlic sauteed spinach. what you now have my friends is an incredible homemade sauce. they don't jar deliciousness like this.

to your boiling water, add your gnocchi. in case you were wondering, remove it from the package first. i like to use tri-color because i think it's pretty. hey, sue me.

as soon as the gnocchi floats to the top, which should just be a few minutes, remove it from the water and drain it.

stir the gnocchi into the sauce and top with shaved parmesan cheese if you have it. this is a hearty dish with a depth of rich flavors that will make you want to shout about it from the rooftops. or from your dining room chair- just don't scare your neighbors with all that hollering.

spinach and creamy gouda gnocchi
what you need
1 package gnocchi
3 tbs butter
3-4- 1 cup milk
1/2-3/4 cups gouda or white cheese of your choice
parmesan for topping (optional)
1 tbs olive oil
1 clove garlic, diced
1 cup spinach
1/2-1 cup flour
italian herbs
pinch of ground nutmeg
salt and pepper

what you do
saute spinach with olive oil and garlic over medium heat. remove this from the pan and now melt butter with milk and flour to make a rue. season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and herbs. then, add shredded cheese. if the sauce is too thick, add more milk and if it is too thin, add more flour.
add the garlic spinach back into the sauce.
boil the gnocchi until it rises to the top; which should take just a few minutes. blend the cooked gnocchi into your homemade sauce and then top with parmesan cheese if you have it. yum.