I absolutely adore “Parks and Recreation,” and I knew when I started Veg Out that I would pair the show with waffles on Treat Yo Self Day, which is today (October 13).

You can make the waffles meet whatever dietary restrictions you have. The ones pictured in these photos are gluten-free and vegetarian.

This recipe “serves” 2 and can easily be adjusted for more.

Ingredients
enough waffle/baking mix to make 2 Belgian waffles, plus the added ingredients indicated on the mix package
1 cup strawberries, sliced
4 tablespoons vegan whipping cream (from a can)

Instructions
Prepare your batter using the mix package directions. For our gluten-free mix, we added lemon-infused olive oil, water and eggs.

Heat up your waffle iron and make your waffles!

Slice your strawberries in between waffle iron turns.

When the waffles are done, plate them and place the strawberries and whipping cream on top as you like. We used a coconut-based cream.

Enjoy with an episode or two of “Parks and Recreation.”

The Easy Route
You can buy frozen waffles, but to me, they just aren’t the same as a fluffy Belgian waffle. Getting pre-sliced strawberries to make that step easy is an option as well.

You may also be able to find a restaurant that makes gluten-free waffles for you to order for delivery or takeout.

The Pairing
“Parks and Recreation” is one of my all-time favorite shows. I loved watching the ongoing antics of Leslie, Ann, Tom, Ron, April, Andy, Donna, Jerry, Ben, Chris and the rest of the crew as the series aired, and I’ve also rewatched the entire series a couple times.

Amy Poehler plays Leslie Knope, the over-eager deputy director of the parks and recreation department in Pawnee, Indiana. We quickly get to know her coworkers, including her supervisor, Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman); her assistant, Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari); the department intern, April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza); and the department’s other two staff members, Donna Meagle (Retta) and Jerry Gergich (Jim O’Heir).

In the early episodes, Leslie befriends Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones), a Pawnee resident who comes to a parks and rec meeting to complain about a giant empty pit in the vacant lot next to her home. Ann’s boyfriend, Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt), fell in the pit, and as a nurse, Ann is very concerned about the public safety threat.

In the second season, Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) and Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe) come to Pawnee to help the city deal with serious financial issues.

My favorite episode of “Parks and Rec” is the “Treat Yo Self” one, a.k.a. “Pawnee Rangers” (season four, episode four). Donna and Tom very reluctantly invite Ben on their annual Treat Yo Self Day, where they basically pamper themselves and shop until they drop. There is a batsuit involved, and those scenes are some of my favorite in the whole series.

The show as a whole does a great job of pairing downright silly comedy with those moments of realness and heart that truly get you invested in these characters. The batsuit sequences are just a couple examples of this.

Let us know if you make these waffles and/or watch “Parks and Recreation!” Tag us in your Instagram posts & stories, tweets or TikTok videos: @veg_out_recipes