New Orleans Red Beans and Rice recipe

1 pound red kidney beans -- dried
1/2 pound salt pork
1 whole onion -- chopped
2 cloves garlic -- chopped
1/4 cup celery -- chopped
1 quart ham or beef stock
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 whole bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon thyme
3 cups rice

Soak beans in water overnight. Drain. In a Dutch oven, brown salt pork. Add onions, garlic, and celery and saute for 3 minutes. Add beans, stock, Tabasco sauce, salt, and herbs. Simmer 3 hours or until beans are tender. Add water when necessary during cooking; water should barely cover beans at end of cooking. Remove 1 cup beans and mash to paste. Add mashed bean paste back to beans; stir until liquid is thickened. Serve over hot rice.