As a parent, planning a stress-free holiday season can be a challenge.  With such a busy holiday schedule, filled with recitals, birthday parties and more, you may be wondering what you can do to ease the pain when cooking this holiday season.  Here are 5 stress-free recipes for holiday season your family is sure to love!

Easy Pumpkin Pie

Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Servings: 6

1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
½ cup Original Bisquick mix
½ cup sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
Whipped topping

Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 inch pie plate.  Stir all ingredients except the whipped topping until blended, then pour into the pie plate.  Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.  Cool for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for about 3 hours, or until chilled.  Serve with whipped topping if desired.  Store covered in the refrigerator.

Christmas Fruit Drops

Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Servings: 5 dozen

1 ½ cup flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup shortening
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup candied fruit, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Cream together the shortening and sugar, until light and fluffy.  Add your egg and vanilla extract.  Beat well.  Blend the candied fruit with the flour mixture and then add to the creamed mixture.  Mix well.  Drop the dough by teaspoonful onto an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.

Sweet Potato Fries

Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 55 min
Servings: 6

Cooking spray
6 sweet potatoes
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.  Peel the sweet potatoes and then cut them into 1 inch French fries.  Place the potatoes in a large resalable plastic bag, add the oil, salt and pepper.  Close the bag and shake well, until all the potatoes are coated with oil.  Arrange the potatoes on the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes.  Turn with a spatula and back another 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.  Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy.