If you're a fan of Panera soups like my family is and maybe you want to save money or perhaps you don't have a Panera near you. This "Soup Dupe" is for you. We love their tomato soup with a nice grilled cheese sandwich. This past weekend we decided that instead of driving to the store and picking up some that we should try to duplicate the recipe, hence the "dupe".

We sifted through various websites that offer the recipe hack. The problem is that a lot of them offered different ingredients and cooking directions. That made it hard to find the one to go with, so after finding one that I thought most closely resembled it without a bunch of strange ingredients, we went shopping for the items.

If you own a  Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute longer.

To the onions and garlic, add the diced tomatoes, broth, basil, sugar and seasonings. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until tomatoes are tender.

Next, puree the soup using an immersion blender until it’s smooth and velvety.  If you don't have an immersion blender do what we did and use a blender. Just make sure the soup cools of enough before you blend it.

Pour in the heavy cream  and stir to combine. Continue to cook until the soup has thickened slightly and is heated through, about 3-5 minutes. The soup swill change color from the bright red tomato to a lighter red look that you are familiar with from the original Panera soup.

To serve, ladle the soup into bowls  and garnish with croutons, if desired.  I highly recommend a good crouton like a garlic and parmesan type. You can always go with basic crackers if you don't have any. Serve warm and we suggest a nice grilled cheese sandwich to enjoy with. Just perfect for a winter's night. Enjoy!

The finished product! The Panera soup dupe!

It's soup weather here in New England! Frankly, I could eat soup every day, all year long. It's my absolute favorite mea.. And let's face it, soup is the perfect food. It's warm, nutritious and comes in so many varieties. Let's celebrate this hot meal in a bowl.  Get those spoons up. Here are 11 of the hottest spots for soup in Boston, for you to check out.

One of the many things I love about soup is that you can usually pull it together at home, last minute. Most of us have bouillon cubes, some protein, and vegetables at reach in our kitchens. Add some herbs and spices and your meal is made.

Of course, some homemade soups can be a bit labor intensive. Or at least, time consuming. All the chopping of veggies, sauteing garlic,and often using a food processor can be a lot after a long day at work. Even if you just use a crock pot and let it simmer all day, much thought and prep has to be done.

Go easy on yourself. Next time you want a nice hot bowl of soup, or even a cool soup in summer, go out! There are so many awesome restaurants in the Boston area that offer excellent soups. I've done the research for you. Using sites like FourSquare, Yelp, Eater Boston, and including some personal choice based on my own experience, here's a list to help you out.

So let's head out the door in search of some of the best places to get soup in the Bay State.  You'll find all kinds of options here, from flavorful Asian choices to comfort soups, and even a New England staple. Treat yourself to a hot bowl and leave the cooking and cleaning to someone else. Spoons up! Here are 11 of the Hottest spots for soup in Boston and the Boston area.

25 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston

Eater Boston claims this fairly new kid in town is getting rave reviews for it's French onion soup. Cafe Sauvage serves "a hearty Gruyere-topped soup." French onion soup  is my absolute favorite, and I'm very picky, so I will be venturing to this spot soon. I mean, look at that cheese!

63 Salem Street, Boston

Yelp and Foursquare agree on Neptune Oyster's soups selections. Famous for their Italian style clam chowder, you will also find other delicious options served hot in a bowl, like their Maine Lobster Bisque.

321 Arsenal Street, Watertown

Eater Boston advises that we not to miss out on Branch Line's chicken rotisserie soup. They also mention the recipe changes occasionally, but any version is delicious. And chicken soup truly is good for the soul, and all that ails you. Oh, and you can buy their famous soup by the quart, to bring home.

177 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston

Foursquare readers like the Veggie pho with chicken broth and an "egg to taste -- delicious!" (according to one reviewer). Their Tom Yum and Duck Noodle soup are other popular options, according to Yelp reviewers. I have had their spicy noodle soup and it's really good.

779 Centre Street, Boston (Jamaica Plain)

This popular JP spot, according to a Yelp reviewer, serves up "some of the best ramen and pho in the area." By the way, they also have locations in Cambridge and Brookline.

41 Union Street, Boston

Boston's oldest restaurant is still filling bellies and warming hearts with their famous clam chowder. One Foursquare reviewer delcared that when you get more clams than potatoes, you know you're in Boston. And when you've been doing it as long as UOH, it's got to be good.

1008 Cambridge Street, Cambridge

This Inman Square spots serves up Brazilian food. They are well-known for their a flavorful seafood stew, Moqueca, which is cooked in a clay pot. An Eater Boston review notes the stew is made from a coconut milk-based broth and flavor -heightened with is cilantro, tomatoes, onions, and more, and you can choose your seafood combo for the soup. But they also serve soups like black bean with bacon and collard greens soup with potato and sausage. Pass me a spoon, now, please! 

2 Pleasant Street, Charlestown

This famous eatery was established in 1780 and claims to have been a favorite spot by many patriots of the Revolutionary War, including George Washington and Paul Revere. Yelpers love the New England clam chowder here, and the Tavern onion soup. Sounds like a win win to me.

348 Congress Street, Boston

World famous chef Barbara Lynch's restaurant has been warming bellies with it's classic spicy tomato soup for years. Eater Boston notes it's topped with a taleggio and a caraway crostini. Yum!

1245 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston

Another Eater Boston favorite here. This Allston Korean restaurant's website simply states: Beef soup for the soul. They go on to say, "We pride ourselves in serving the best Korean traditional Beef Soup (Seollongtang) in Boston Area. Stop by for Seollongtag to heat up Boston's brutal  winter and breeze out Boston's stuffy summer."

1245 Cambridge Street, Cambridge

Yelp reviewers love the Texas Style chili with brisket, no beans and some real heat.