A Great Bend reader supplied this question about TV cooking shows:

"I would like to know what the TV programs that demonstrate making different kinds of meals do with all the leftover food they make, and what do they do with all of the fruits, vegetables, etc., that add to the decorated tables. Are those real or make-believe?"

We sent this question to several celebrity cooks, and received a response from Barbara Baan. Her cooking segment "Baan Appetit," is a weekly feature on KSN TV in Wichita.

Each week, Baan features a recipe from a local foodie — either a private citizen or a chef at a local eating establishment. She goes to their kitchens, and what happens to the food is up to them.

"When I go into people’s homes and they cook, whatever they’re preparing will be for dinner that night," Baan said. When the food is prepared in a restaurant, the finished product often goes to the employees or back to the TV station.

The guest cook is asked to have all of the ingredients ready to use. Pre-measured ingredients are in separate bowls and added at the proper time. The featured dish is prepared one time in front of the camera, but if a dish requires a lot of preparation time or cooking time, one "final product" is prepared the night before.

When Baan and camera operator Kevin Sterbral arrive, it doesn’t take long to record the raw footage. Usually they are done in 90 minutes or less. Back at the station, the segment is edited to three or three and a half minutes.

Only one item is featured in the finished segment that will air, but, as the reader noted, the cooks rarely present a single entree on a plate. Side dishes or fresh fruit and vegetables provide color, and yes, they are all real. Recipes for side dishes can be found on the KSN website.

"I love to cook and I love to go into people’s homes," Baan said. "We have so much fun when we do this."

Here’s a question from "Bob": "Recently I noticed on 19th St. a sign before the school zones that reads ‘Entering Higher Fines Area’ or something to that effect. I’ve seen similar signs at other school zones. I have yet to see an ‘End of Higher Fines Area,’ so does that mean anyone who has ever gone by the sign will always hereafter be in a higher fine area?"

Well, that’s something to ponder, but we will take it as a rhetorical question and not attempt to answer it. It’s kind of along the same line as, "Why do you need a driver’s license to buy liquor when you can’t drink and drive?"