It's only a matter of weeks -- or days, this being unpredictable Pittsburgh -- before we move the cooking and merry-making indoors and pack up the shorts.

It's also not too, too far from the holidays, so if you're thinking "cooking" and "indoors," here's news of a few interesting gadgets. Keep in mind I haven't tested them (no freebies allowed) but the track records of the brand names are pretty solid.

First is the Mr. Coffee Cafe Frappe. Ooh, la, la -- why didn't someone think of this before? This allows you to make "coffeehouse-style frozen drinks" on your own little slab of Formica.

I do like the ambiance of the neighborhood coffeehouse -- all of those peeps typing away on their laptops -- but to make a frappe at home in three minutes (says a news release) while the kiddies bite at your ankles? Good stuff. This is to roll out sometime this month at Target, Walmart and mrcoffeestore.com; $79.99.

Like to deep-fry your turkeys in the driveway? Branch out, dude. Or in. The Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer by MasterBuilt lets you fry up to a 14-pound gobbler right next to Cafe Frappe. The stainless steel appliance retails for between $119 and $159 at sporting goods stores, mass marketers and at masterbuilt.com. Looks a bit like a bread maker. Thankfully, it has a lid. Fire it up when the Steelers play a big turkey, like the Bears, this Sunday.

Lastly, Crock-Pot has launched double and triple slow cookers. I slap my forehead again and say, "Duh, why didn't this happen like 10 years ago?" The Crock-Pot Duo and Crock-Pot Trio Cook and Serve cookers have 2.5-quart crocks and individual controls for each. $79.99 and $99.99 suggested retail, although Target this week advertised the Trio for $79.99. Crock-pot.com. The holiday party possibilities here are endless.

It's Hunger Action Month and the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank has a nifty idea for involving kids. Get a peanut butter jar and fill it with pennies (or any change) and take it to any branch of First Commonwealth Bank that has a change counter in the lobby. After counting, deposit the cash in the food bank's Pennies for Peanut Butter Campaign Account. A 12-ounce jar holds enough coins to buy seven jars of peanut butter, says the bank. What a great idea for schools! Go to pittsburghfoodbank.org for more Hunger Action Month events and suggestions on how you can help. Volunteers are always needed, and now's the time to donate excess produce from your garden to the bank.

The Taste of Lawrenceville III runs from 6:30 to 9:30 tonight at Fe Arts Gallery, 4102 Butler St., benefiting the nonprofit. Seven restaurants and seven artists will thrill you with their works; $30 at the door; 412-860-6028.

Live northwest of town? The Taste of Beaver County ... Tropical Escape begins at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at Seven Oaks Country Club, Ohioville, benefiting the nonprofit Homemaker-Home Health Aide Service's dementia program and home-care services. Tickets $85 per person for a sit-down dinner of Citrus Ginger Tilapia with Mango and Papaya Salsa or Grilled Chicken Breast with Malibu Rum, Pineapple and Orange Sauce; 724-774-4002 or atasteofbeavercounty.com.

Taste of Dormont runs from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Sip Pennsylvania wines with local restaurant fare and blues. Tickets ($30) at Cafe J's, 3220 W. Liberty Ave. Benefits Dormont Main Street Program: dormontmainstreet.org.

St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, Reeves Avenue, Monessen, will hold its festival from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday and from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. Sunday; 724-684-5411; stspyridon.pa.goarch.org. ... Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Whitehall, will hold its Taste of Serbia from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the picnic ground, 1450 Hamilton Road, Bethel Park. Serbian steak and sausages, burek (filo layered with meat), Sopska Salata (Tomato and Cucumber Salad), barbecue. Contact Bob Topich, 412-369-8382. ... St. Andrew the Apostle Romanian Orthodox Church's food festival returns from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday, 56 Glenn Way, McKees Rocks. Menu (includes Bere Azuga, Romanian beer); standrewpitt.org.

End o' Summer Enrico Biscotti Boat Extravaganza, featuring a from-the-farm-feast on the Riverquest Explorer, is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. tomorrow; 412-281-2602; $80 per. ... Marketfrau Premium Teas, Wexford, will hold its annual teacup exchange at 2 p.m. Sunday. Seating limited, $15. Call Betsy, 724-934-5828. ... The EQT Steelers Pre-Season Roundtable at the Meadowlands on Aug. 27 raised $12,000 for four charities in Washington and Greene counties.