Celebrate Galentine’s Day With Our Parks and Rec-Themed Recipes

The great Leslie Knope of NBC’s Parks and Recreation once said, “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

Even if you’re not a fan of the show, celebrating your friends with delicious food sounds pretty great to us. We’ve compiled Knope-approved recipes to make your Galentine’s Day festivities the best yet. Plus, be sure to check out these 6 Recipes for the Ultimate Girls Night In.

Leslie Knope-Approved Galentine’s Day Brunch for Dinner

Vegetable and Goat Cheese Frittata

Leslie’s brunch featured a killer frittata, so ours does too. In just 25 minutes you’ll have a delectable, egg-filled bite with meaty mushrooms, fresh bell peppers and broccoli, and heavenly goat cheese.

View the Recipe: Vegetable and Goat Cheese Frittata

Ham and Gruyere Belgian Waffles with Sauteed Pears

If there’s one thing Leslie loves more than her ladies, it might just be waffles. These homemade, whole-wheat breakfast bites are elegantly topped with sauteed pears, ham, and fresh Gruyere.

View the Recipe: Ham and Gruyere Belgian Waffles with Sauteed Pears

Blood Orange Mimosas

Is it really brunch without mimosas? Blood orange juice takes center stage, but the additions of sparkling wine, orange bitters, and sugar make for a perfectly balanced cocktail.

View the Recipe: Blood Orange Mimosa

Ron Swanson-Approved Galentine’s Day Meaty Dinner

Pan-Seared Strip Steak

Ron’s all-time favorite food is steak, so it’s only fitting we include a buttery, garlicky slice of meat to serve for the main meal. Pair with Parsley-and-Dill Potatoes for a true meat-and-potatoes kind of celebration.

View the Recipe: Pan-Seared Strip Steak

Maple-Bacon Kale Salad

Ron has turned down salads more than once (after all, he’s not a “rabbit”). But at Cooking Light we’re pretty big fans of a little veg during dinner. We top this recipe with his favorite—crisp bacon—and cross our fingers he won’t judge us for digging in.

View the Recipe: Maple-Bacon Kale Salad

Bourbon Mule

Pour out the hard stuff and stir in light ginger beer, lime juice, and mint for a refreshing bourbon cocktail.

View the Recipe: Bourbon Mule

Tom Haverford-Approved Desserts

Brown Butter Cake with Cocoa

Tom once said, “I call cakes big ol’ cookies.” So whether this is just a big ol’ cookie, or a decadent brown butter cake, we’re digging in.

View the Recipe: Brown Butter Cake with Cocoa

Frosted Brown Butter Blondies

We’ll take a slice of chocolate-infused blondie in a heartbeat. Tom has been known to refer to desserts as “sserts” and this “ssert” is whole-wheat, ooey gooey masterpiece.

View the Recipe: Frosted Brown Butter Blondies