Gnocchi...I love you.

Gnocchi (pronounced nee-okkee) is a small piece of wonderful! These small dumplings are an excellent alternative to pasta. Gnocchi, actually Italian for "lump", is most commonly made with potatoes but can be found with flour, squash, etc. Traditional and fabulous gnocchi has three simple ingredients: potatoes, flour and a pinch of salt.

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I've read that gnocchi recipes are not for the faint at heart. Recipes date back to the twelfth century in Northern Italy where, as you can imagine, the little potato pillows were made by hand and with love! You have to get everything just right, our your gnocchi can be mushy or rubbery. Yuck!

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Thankfully, for me...you can find them in a vacuum-sealed packages in most supermarkets. Chris and I have found gnocchi at Whole Foods, the farmer's market, and even Sam's. I just urge you to read the labels because some of the mass produced are made with egg...so just be weary!

Cooking the gnocchi is a piece of cake. Simply drop the dumplings into boiling water and wait for them to start floating to the top. That is your cue to grab your colander because they are ready to go!

There are tons of options when serving gnocchi, so get creative! It can be served with pesto, tomato sauce, really any sauce or with veggies like eggplant...yum! Last night, Chris served up some gnocchi with a tomato sauce that donned onions and bell peppers. Super simple but super tasty!

(admittedly, not the best photo!)

What is your favorite way to have gnocchi?