#Smooth Gazpacho with Homemade Croutons |

Ingredients

• 1 loaf of 1 -2 day old French bread, cut into 1/2″ squares (for airy, crunchy croutons, look for light and fluffy French bread, rather than heavier dense bread)
• 1 – 2 t of granulated garlic or garlic powder, to taste
• 1 t kosher salt, preferably Diamond Crystal
• Fresh Ground pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup of good quality extra virgin olive oil
• 4 pounds ripe tomatoes, preferably smaller cocktail or Campari tomatoes, cored and cut in half
• 1 Anaheim chili, cored and seeded
• 1/2 English cucumber (about 3/4 of a pound), roughly peeled with a little green remaining, seeded and cut into large chunks
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded
• 1/2 shallot, about 1 1/2″ long, peeled
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1 1/2 T Spanish sherry vinegar
• 1 t kosher salt, preferably Crystal Diamond
• 1 cup high quality extra-Virgin oil
• Fresh chives, cut in 1/4″ pieces