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By JEFF HOUCK

jhouck@tampatrib.com

Published: January 4, 2009

"Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating," by Mark Bittman (Simon & Schuster, $25)

Big-brain thinking about the ramifications of human food consumption has become all the rage, thanks to Michael Pollan's book "The Omnivore's Dilemma." Bittman, a New York Times columnist, adds his imprint on the topic with a different take: recipes for the more socially conscious eater. The book is an interesting read, so we won't be rude and point out the carbon footprint it takes to drive through Spain eating with Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow.

"Cool Waters," by Brian Preston-Campbell (Harvard Common Press, $12.95)

So this is what it comes to? We need a water cookbook? That's not exactly accurate. It's more of a stuff-noncooks-can-add-to-water book. The selling point: The drinks are alternatives to hyper-sugared sports beverages and adult cocktails. The recipe for Mora Picante - a blackberry, cinnamon and ancho chili-flavored concoction - looks particularly interesting as a fiesta beverage.

"Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook," by Phyllis Pellman Good (Good Books, $29.95)
Economic realities are forcing more cooks to be creative as well as shrewd with the grocery dollar. One way they're doing so is by going back to slow-cooker dishes that can be mixed in the morning and served that night. This book is a font of inspiration for one-pot cooks, with lots of variety when it comes to light meals, soups, stews, roasts and gumbos. Even upside-down cake is featured here.

Jeff Houck

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