Chicken & Gnocchi soup

I love creating soups that remind me of something that I ate at a restaurant. This one resembles the soup at Olive Garden. It is really good and very easy to make. If you are looking for a delicious type of soup, be sure and try my version of chicken and gnocchi soup.
1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced (you can use a rotisserie chicken)
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 quart half and half
1 14 ounces can of chicken broth
2 minced garlic cloves
1 cup carrots, finely shredded
1 cup onion, finely diced
1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoons extra virgin oil
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon parsley
Freshly grated Parmesan cheeses(optional)
1 pound potato gnocchi
salt and pepper to taste
Saute the onion and garlic in the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the onion becomes translucent. Add the flour and make a roux. Let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding 1 quart of half and half.
While this is cooking and thickening, cook the gnocchi in a separate pan according to package directions.
Back in the soup bowl where you added the half and half, add in the carrots and chicken. Once the mixture becomes thick again, add the chicken broth. Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasoning;, simmer until soup is heated through.