sonja's pigeon peas and rice

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups parboiled rice
• 1-15 oz can brown pigeon peas
• 4 slices crispy bacon chopped (keep the bacon grease)
• 2 cloves garlic, whole
• 5 sprigs fresh thyme or 2 heaping tsp of ground thyme
• 1 large red bell pepper, chopped fine
• 1/2 large green bell pepper, chopped fine
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 - scallions, chopped (cut off most the dark green top but not all)
• 2 stalks celery, chopped fine
• 1-15 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
• 1-2 - bay leaf, optional