Stewed Okra and Tomatoes Creole Style Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 ounces bacon, sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch wide slices (lardons)
• 1 cup diced onion (about 1 medium onion)
• 1 cup diced bell pepper (about 1 bell pepper)
• 1/2 cup diced celery (about one rib)
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic (about 1 clove)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 15-ounce can of whole peeled tomatoes and their juices
• 1 pound (16-ounces) of frozen or fresh okra, whole or thickly sliced, trimmed of tough tops if whole, defrosted if frozen
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• 1 pinch of cayenne
• 1 pinch cinnamon
• 1 scant pinch of ground cloves (watch it on the ground cloves, a little goes a long way, and you can easily overdo it!)
• 1/2 cup water