A POT LUCK IS A MEAL for which disparate people provide a variety of elements. Somehow, author Tinky Weisblat maintains, those elements always seem to come together to create a unique, delicious feast. Her new book is her own pot luck, a collection of recipes, stories, and historical essays that tickle her fancy. Some of the recipes are new; some she has been preparing for years. All are reasonably easy to make. The book celebrates seasonal foods and holidays that give Americans an excuse to cook. It also pays tribute to people from the past who are best remembered with food … because EVERYONE is best remembered with food. From President George Washington to country-music icon Dolly Parton, these figures give Tinky an opportunity to analyze their impact and make dishes to honor them. In these pages you’ll find produce-centered recipes like spinach-and-caramelized-onion dip, rhubarb cheesecake, corn fritters, and apple pizza. You’ll also find dishes appropriate for both religious and secular holidays, from a king cake for Epiphany to chili peanuts for Kwanzaa. And you’ll find culinary tributes like peanut brittle for agricultural innovator George Washington Carver, sponge cake for suffragist Susan B. Anthony, and spaghetti sauce for silent-film star Rudolph Valentino. Pull up a chair and savor the meal.