Learn dinner basics at "From Scratch" class at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Move away from relying on processed foods and learn the not-so-mysterious basics of cooking and baking "from scratch" in a July 22 class at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kris James, a chef and culinary herbalist, will talk you through how to choose the best ingredients for each recipe, a knife skills demonstration and troubleshooting. You will work together with other "from scratch newbies" to prepare recipes for a complete meal that will include mixed-greens salad with homemade vinaigrette, meatloaf, mashed potatoes with homemade gravy, sautéed vegetables and herbed biscuits. You'll leave with food to share with your family and friends, and detailed recipes. Class is from 9-11 a.m. with a limit of 20 students. Cost is $39 for members, $52 for nonmembers. To register, visit arboretum.umn.edu/cookingclasses.aspx.

For trivia buffs, a food culture newsletter called Fresh Squeezed, from Extra Crispy, which is part of the Time Inc. Food Collection and its Lifestyle Network, has compiled a look at how U.S. presidents regarded breakfast. (To see the whole list, visit extracrispy.com/presidents. Here are some highlights:

Harry Truman downed a daily morning bourbon, either Old Grand Dad or Wild Turkey, according to Truman author David McCullough (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography).

Bill Clinton favored massive cinnamon rolls smeared with margarine, plain or cinnamon bagels, and cake doughnuts.

Dwight Eisenhower liked to make his own, especially baked goods such as soda bread, soda biscuits, simple yeast bread, and corn sticks.

George H.W. Bush's tastes ran "toward the snacky side of things — popcorn, pork rinds, beef jerky, nachos — even when it came to breakfast. According to the New York Times, even when Bush made a stab at healthier morning fare like yogurt or oat bran, he'd attempt to balance it out with a Butterfinger."

George W. Bush was known to enjoy some post-church huevos rancheros and appreciated a good hot biscuit.

Abraham Lincoln liked a cup of hot coffee early in the morning, "but tended to forget to eat anything until 9 or 10 a.m. When he did, it was simple — maybe a single egg or apple, possibly with a piece of toast."

Donald Trump doesn't really care for breakfast. "But if it's thrust upon him, the options least likely to offend his sensibilities would be bacon (medium), eggs (over hard), and cereal." As he once told Fox News: "Different kinds of cereals. Made in the USA, has to be made in the USA. You know the cornflake type stuff, Raisin Bran. Has to be right out of the fields of Iowa."

Downtown Anoka will be hopping on July 22 when the city's first Food Truck Festival takes place with more than 30 food trucks, live music, craft brews and more. The event, from noon to 10 p.m., will coincide with the final day of the annual Discover Anoka Days celebration, which includes a sidewalk sale and a 5K family fun walk/run. Admission is free, and to encourage tasting and sharing of new foods, food trucks will feature a "$5 Pair Share" deal. In addition, all proceeds from age-21-plus alcoholic beverage wristband sales at each location will benefit Feed My Starving Children. Visit discoveranoka.com for details.

KIM ODE