Take-out Tuesday, Gnocchi with Bacon Cream
HHjr is the head chef in my kitchen,
but on Valentine’s Day, his birthday,
I wanted to cook dinner for him
We waited to have the family celebration
for last weekend when we were all at the beach
I wanted it to be elegant and special
but I also didn’t want to spend all day in the kitchen…
I went to Fresh Market,
they have a nice selection of gourmet type goodies,
and decided on their Chicken Portabella,
chicken breasts stuffed with mushrooms,
ready to bake and serve
I had Truffle Gnocchi from Trader Joe’s in the freezer
and decided to make a creamy sauce
that would work with both the gnocchi and the chicken,
and I could do a simple side of roasted asparagus spears
I also picked up Swiss Almond cheese spread {his favorite}
from Fresh Market deli,
and a slice of White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
from Fresh Market’s bakery for the birthday boy
All I had to do was put the chicken in the oven,
cook the gnocchi, make the cream sauce
and roast the asparagus
I amped things up a little with Maple Bourbon bacon 😋
The sauce is easy, all you have to do is cook the bacon,
drain and add the onions to the rendered fat in the pan
Cook until they soften then add garlic and cook another minute
Add chardonnay and let it reduce by half
then reduce heat and add cream and cheese
I went ahead and cooked the gnocchi in the afternoon,
put it in a small baking dish
and poured the sauce over all
and refrigerated it to bake later along side the chicken
You can add some bacon to the sauce if desired
or use it all as a crispy garnish
I cooked the asparagus,
that I tossed with olive oil, salt & pepper,
in the air fryer, 380 degrees for 10 minutes,
and it was perfect
Gnocchi with Bacon Cream
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1/2 large sweet onion
- 1/3 cup chardonnay or other white wine
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 clove garlic minced
- grated Asiago & Parmesan cheese
- 16 oz gnocchi
Instructions
- Fry bacon until crisp. Drain and tear into small pieces
- Chop onion and add it to the rendered bacon fat in skillet and cook over medium heat until softened.
- Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
- Deglaze the pan with chardonnay and cook until the liquid has reduced by half
- Reduce heat to low and stir in cream.
- Add half of the Parmesan cheese and part of the bacon if desired, reserving the rest for garnishing, and let the sauce gently simmer
- Cook gnocchi according to package directions. Place in a buttered or greased small casserole dish and cover with sauce. Can be covered and refrigerated at this point for baking later if desired.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbling. Garnish with reserved cheese and bacon
Notes
Gnocchi is a wonderful side dish and a way to change up your menu
It is available in the pasta section,
and in the refrigerated pasta section,
and in the frozen section of the grocery store
Enjoy!
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado/ Love Your Creativity
What’s for Dinner/ Between Naps on the Porch
All About Home/ Common Ground & Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Oh My Heartsie Girl / Turn About Tuesday
Centerpiece Wednesday / Creative Crafts / Crafty Creators
Full Plate Thursday/ Creatively Crafty/ Thursday Favorite Things
Happiness is Homemade/ Friday with Friends / Share the Wealth
RSS - Posts
Yum Jenna, what a delicious birthday dinner! I wish both Fresh Market and Trader Joe’s were closer to us. Belated happy birthday wishes to HHjr. ♥
I am spoiled because they are both close and convenient for me 🙂
You have me at bacon cream!
Thanks Angie! Your comments all came through, sometimes it just takes a minute…I deleted the duplicates
I completely agree with Angie.
Thanks Bernadette, easy to make too!
Easy is always at the top of my list.
Bacon cream would be a hit with my family. Jenna, the birthday meal sounds so delicious and your planning kept you from being in the kitchen all day. I love Fresh Market and TJ’s when I make a trip to Birmingham. Happy Tuesday!
Thank you Pam, even Publix and Piggly Wiggly are offering some really good easy to prepare meals these days, making it easy to be lazy in the kitchen!
I’m sure you made your husband very happy!
Thanks Dorothy 🙂
A Valentine’s Day birthday deserves a little indulgence like a delicious creamy sauce. It looks amazing.
Thanks Leslie Anne 😋
OMG I just drooled on my keyboard!
haha, dangerously easy too!
I was just about to say the same thing Martha just said! Gotta try this recipe!
Ha ha, thanks Rosie, enjoy!
Jenna, this was such a special birthday celebration! Love the meal you prepared and I’m sure it was enjoyed and appreciated by HHjr. Nice you planned the family celebration for the beach, how special it that! I need to get to TJ’s soon!
Thanks Emily, we had a lot of fun. The last few times I’ve gone to TJs I hurried in and out, it’s been so crowded lately!
I’m sure you all enjoyed his birthday celebration. Your selections were quite elegant!
Thanks Linda!
Happy Birthday to your Head Chef, Jenna. I’m sure the birthday boy enjoyed his special meal. The gnocchi with the bacon cream sauce sounds so yummy!
Thank you Kitty, the gnocchi was really good, such a nice change from potatoes!
I love so many of your recipes and I love your paintings and drawings.
Thanks so much Nancy, much appreciated 💕
A very nice dinner indeed! While I’ve had gnocchi, I’ve never served it for Sunday dinner… Think I’ll do that soon, thanks:@)
Thanks Lynn, it’s a nice change up!
Jenna, this dinner looks fabulous! I love the menu. and the darling paintings. You never miss a creative beat. Happy Day!
Thanks so much Sarah 🙂
Happy belated birthday to your head chef! The food looks amazing. YUM! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks so much Cindy!
Yum! What a wonderful birthday dinner.
Thanks Patty Anne, it was yummy!
Congratulations, your post has been featured on Full Plate Thursday, 578. Thanks so much for sharing with us and hope you come back to see us soon!
Miz Helen
Thanks so much Miz Helen!