East Meets West Pepper Steak

Name: East Meets West Pepper Steak
Ingredients: 3 tb butter, or vegetable oil; 1/2 ts dried thyme; 1 1/2 ts cornstarch; 1 1/2 lb beef round steak, or flank; 1 1/2 ts salt; 1/2 ts black pepper; 4 1/2 c hot cooked rice; 1 c celery; 1 1/2 c onion, thinly sliced; 1 ts granulated sugar; 2 ts soy souce; 2 c chopped tomatoes; 2 bay leaves; 3 lg green bell peppers,; 1/4 c cold water