That is the question now that Halloween is just days away. If you decide to carve a jack-o'-lantern, read these tips first, and browse these free pumpkin carving patterns for inspiration.

If cooking is your choice (pumpkins are nutritious and low-carb, after all), try serving something orange for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and a snack with these recipes for pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin soup, pumpkin gnocchi, pumpkin chocolate cheesecake and low-fat pumpkin bites.

And whether you carve or cook... be sure to scoop out, season and toast your pumpkin seeds.

_{Jack-o'-lantern photo © 2004 Kim Knox Beckius.}