Olive Garden* Chef's Special

Disclaimer - this is not an actual Olive Garden Recipe... Which is actually kind of the point! Whenever we get a chance to go to Olive Garden, my sweet hubby always scans and searches the menu, hoping to discover some new recipe that he'll love. He doesn't usually find much different and defaults to the request he should be famous for: "Could you please ask the Chef to create something special for me? I want pasta and every vegetable you have back there. Tell them to have fun with it!"

The server sometimes hesitantly (and wide-eyed in uncertainty) agrees and takes all our orders back. What servers don't know is that most "chefs" are not in it to make the same recipes over and over. They often absolutely love to be creative and just never get a chance working for a chain restaurant. This request usually thrills them. Multiple times the chef himself has come it to check and see if Mike is pleased with his creation. Then Mike ooh's and ah's over the meal, and everyone's happy!

So (praise is my love language,) I decided to make my beloved a special "chef's creation," and was just as thrilled with his ooh's and ah's as the Olive Garden folks always are! He absolutely loved this dish. :-)

Olive Garden* Chef's Special

1 pound whole grain spaghetti, cooked
2 jullienned sweet onions
6 stalks celery, leaves and all
3 carrots, sliced
1 can ripe green olives, drained (by the way, Walmart now sells these for $1.62!!)
½ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups spaghetti sauce


1.In a large skillet, heat olive oil and add onions, stirring briefly. Saute until slightly soft, 2-3 minutes.
2.Turn down heat to medium. Add celery, carrots and olives and stir. Cover and cook until carrots soften, 3-5 minutes.
3.Combine all and serve hot.

*No chefs were harmed in the creation of this meal (or blog).

PS: This could easily be made gluten free.
PS2: This is not nearly as fattening as the real Chef's Specials!

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Location:Greenwell St,Bellview,United States