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1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice. Cut a small 'x' on the bottom of each tomato to encourage skin to peel. Add tomatoes to boiling water and boil for 20-60 seconds or until skin easily separates from flesh. Drain and place in ice water until cool. Dry, peel and discard skin, and roughly chop.
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2
Add chopped tomatoes and garlic to blender and process until smooth. Add bread to blender and allow to sit and soften for 15 minutes. Blend. Stream in olive oil while blending. Add vinegar and salt to taste, and blend until smooth.
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3
Pass soup through a sieve to remove any seeds or unblended chunks. Chill in fridge until ready to serve.
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4
For the croutons, preheat a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add oil, followed by bread cubes. Toss to coat in oil and season with salt. Saute, stirring often, until crispy and golden brown. Set aside.
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5
Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Place cold water and ice into a medium sized bowl. Gently lower in eggs and boil for 10 minutes. Transfer to ice water bath. When cooled, remove, peel and chop as desired. Season with salt before topping soup.
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6
Add ham to a large nonstick pan. Turn heat to medium and slowly render fat and crisp ham. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until crisp, adjusting heat as needed. Transfer to a paper towel-lined sheet. Break into smaller pieces when serving.
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7
Ladle soup into serving bowls. Top with boiled eggs, croutons, ham, chives, black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Enjoy.
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8
Note: If using fresh bread, preheat oven to 350u00b0F. Cut bread into 1-inch chunks and place on baking sheet. Dry out in oven for 10-12 minutes or until dehydrated without browning.
