Smothered Okra

Name: 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 and freshly ground black pepper, to taste