Skip the knife -- use the drill!

I'm not exactly handy with tools, so the prospect of working with a knife to carve my pumpkin is a bit daunting. Try as I may, I can't cut shapes more complicated than triangles.

A few years back, our friend Martha Stewart demonstrated how to make holes in your pumpkin with a power drill. I figured I could surely handle using a drill on a pumpkin...I mean, how difficult could that be? Sure enough, I found that it is very easy to do!

It's been a few years since I've drilled a pumpkin, so I decided that I'd try it again this Halloween. For those of you who have not tried this, I've outlined the process below. Believe me, if I can do it, you can, too!

1) As you can see, the first step is to have your pumpkin inspected by the cat or cats living in your house. Assuming the pumpkin meets quality standards, you can proceed to the next step.

2) Cut a hole (as you usually would) in the top or bottom of the pumpkin. I cut the hole in the bottom so that the lid wouldn't get in the way of my highly complex design. :-)

3) Scoop out the innards of the pumpkin.

4) Find your power drill. This was the most difficult step of all for me. I found it underneath a tarp and some little-used golf clubs out in the garage. It was covered with cobwebs and probably hasn't been used since the last time I drilled a pumpkin. Attach a drill bit in whatever size you desire. I chose one slightly larger than a pencil.

5) Use a pencil to make marks on the pumpkin for your holes or, like me, live on the edge and make your design up as you go! Since time was short, I decided to cover my pumpkin with randomly drilled holes rather than attempt an intricate design.

6) Begin drilling holes in your pumpkin. You probably should do this part outside, because bits of pumpkin will fly!

7) Wipe the shavings from your pumpkin. Clean up your mess! :-)

8) Put a candle inside your drilled pumpkin, then stand back and celebrate the fact that you've moved beyond triangle eyes and noses!