Smothered Okra

Ingredients

• 8 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3 slices smoked bacon, roughly chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 large green bell pepper, roughly chopped
• 1 large white onion, roughly chopped
• 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
• 3 lb. okra, trimmed and sliced 1/2" thick
• 1 cup chicken stock or water
• 2 tsp. dried thyme
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. cayenne
• 1 (28-oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand
• 1 bay leaf
• Kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper