Fennel Pear Soup

Name: Fennel-Pear Soup
Ingredients: 3 bulbs fresh fennel, halved, cores removed, and sliced; 2 medium onions, peeled and sliced; 4 medium pears, peeled, cored, and diced; 3 tablespoons olive oil or butter; salt and freshly ground black pepper; 2 bay leaves; 1 cup (250ml) sparkling cider (see headnote); 5 cups (1.25l) water