For the last two years this show has been coming up in conversation; I was finally curious enough to watch it, and it’s wonderful. For anyone that does not have Netflix or for some reason has not checked this show out, it is set in the 1980s in Hawkins, Indiana, when a young boy (Will Byers) vanishes into thin air while cycling home one night. As family, police and his small band of nerdy friends search for answers, they are drawn into an extraordinary mystery involving top-secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, monsters and one very mysterious girl named Eleven

Stranger Things is great for so many reasons. The 80’s nostalgia, the casting, and the storyline are all really well done. I love that the kids in this show are written as kids and not just tiny grownups; they cuss, they fight, and they make the type of do-or-die pacts that all 12 years olds should make. I. Love. This. Show.

Throughout the series we witness Eleven’s tragic story unfold. We also watch as she develops a fierce love for Eggo waffles. They are the first real kid food she probably ever has eaten which is kinda cool and sad at the same time. In the episode “The Pollywog”, we see the Chief lure a sleepy Eleven out of bed with the promise of an Eggo Extravaganza.

What’s super interesting about this is that aside from looking like a diabetics worst nightmare this sweet treat is composed of some pretty significant items. First, there is the waffle which has become known as Elevens signature, it is strongly associated with her and it’s also a signifier of places she has been (the grocery store, the woods etc.).

Next, there are the Hershey Kisses. Kisses are a symbol of love and affection; something which had previously been denied to Eleven. In this scene the waffles are literally showered with kisses. This is symbolic of the fact that she now knows friendship and love in the form of the Chief, Mike and the rest of the gang.

The Reese’s Pieces. Eleven is…special; so special that it is hard to believe that she is from this planet. I feel that the Reese’s are a nod to a previous alien (also fom the 80’s) who makes friends with a group of young kids and uses powers to make magical things happen and even to fly, (or levitate in Mike’s case). That’s right, ET. 

The Mike and Ikes, I feel that this is representative of Eleven’s connection with Mike. They stay connected throughout the series; he never gives up on her and she never stops thinking of him.

There are a couple of versions of this recipe out there with some differences to mine. The ones I found used a Reddi Wip whipped cream in their recipes where upon studying the clip and photos, I feel that Cool Whip is really what is portrayed here. Regardless, I felt Cool Whip had a better consistency and a more 80’s feel to it so that is what I went with.

I also noticed that the other versions of this had jelly beans instead of Mike and Ikes. I feel that this is incorrect because of the shape and also the colors that appear in the dish. If it were a mixed bag of jelly beans there would be more colors, since there is no purple or black in the clip or photos I ruled them out.

This concoction was really fun to make and of course my kids loved it. Needless to say they did not sleep for a couple days afer consuming it. However, I felt that just like in the show all the heaviness of life needed a bit of relief and what better than in the form of Eggo goodness!

Chief’s Eggo Extravaganza:

3 Eggo waffles

Cool Whip divided

Hershey Kisses

Reese’s Pieces

Mike and Ike candies

1. Layer the ingredients according to taste. I put a bit of the Cool Whip first as an anchor, then a waffle, then more Whip and some Kisses and did two more layers.
2. Shower the stack with Reese’s and Mikes according to taste.