Happy National Popcorn Day! Here, our top binge-watching picks to enjoy.

When it comes to watching TV over doing something productive – like you know, living – we tend to use every justification under the sun, especially when we’re hooked on a specific show. And here’s another one: Today is National Popcorn Day, which to me isn’t so much an excuse as it is the best thing to happen since Christmas.

So get that popcorn popping (try one of these incredible gourmet popcorn recipes over at Organic Authority), kick back, and binge away. It’s pretty much the law.

Oh yeah, and here are 10 TV shows to watch to show your love for this wonderful holiday:

New to Netflix

1. Friends

“He’s her lobster!”

“I’m Chandler. Could I BE wearing any more clothes?”

“We were on a break!”

“Fine! Judge all you want but married a lesbian, left a man at the alter, fell in love with a gay ice dancer, threw a girl’s wooden leg in a fire, LIVE IN A BOX!”

“Pi-VOT!”

Need I say more?

2. Dallas

This remake centers around the next generation of the Ewing family, who clash (like, hardcore clash) over the family’s oil biz and mass fortune.

3. White Collar

White Collar centers around the amazing(ly gorgeous) Matt Bomer, who plays white collar criminal Neil Caffrey. To avoid prison, Neil agrees to help the FBI catch other criminals, using his expertise as a counterfeiter, conman, and an art and securities thief.

4. The Fall

This intense psychological thriller stars Gillian Anderson and the one-and-only Jamie Dornan, who plays a serial killer who stalks his victims in and around Belfast, while Gillian plays the detective brought in to catch him.

5. Wahlburgers

Okay, so I’m not big on reality TV, but Wahlburgers is one of the cutest shows ever! It centers around Paul, Donnie and Mark Wahlburg as they set out to expand Paul’s hamburger restaurant business into a large chain. (Come to Muskoka pretty please!) Their family is so adorable that I’d like to find out if they’re interested in adopting.

New to Amazon

6. Scandal

Since you’re probably going through #TGIT withdrawal right now, you’ll be happy to know that seasons one and two of Scandal are available through Amazon. Kerry Washington steals the show as former White house Communications Director Olivia Pope, who starts her own crisis management firm – meanwhile, she’s hiding the biggest secret of all.

7. Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan – played by Liev Schreiber – is a professional “fixer” for the rich and famous in L.A. and can make anyone’s problems disappear… you know, except for the ones created by his own family (ain’t that the truth).

8. The Newsroom

Created by one of my favorite writers (like, ever) Aaron Sorkin, a newsroom undergoes major changes when a new team is brought in, bringing unexpected results for its existing news anchor, played by the fabulous Jeff Daniels.

9. Justified

Old-school U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is reassigned from Miami to his childhood home in Eastern Kentucky. It stars Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins in one of the best TV bromances around. Trust me, you’ll end up insta-hooked.

10. Mad Dogs

Okay, so you can’t binge-watch Mad Dogs yet, but after watching the pilot you’ll want to. Based on the UK show of the same name, Mad Dogs centers on four former frat brothers who travel to Belize for a reunion, only to have their fancy shmancy vacay interrupted by murder, conspiracy and a psychotic gang lord who’s out for their heads. You know, no biggie.

What popcorn recipe will you be munching on for National Popcorn Day?

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When it comes to popcorn, I don’t need (or want) popcorn recipes that require me to read the fine print.

Sure, when the time calls, I’ll get super crafty and creative and turn my plain ol’ popcorn into something Pinterest worthy, but not when I’m 3 minutes away from curling up on my beloved couch and looking for a snack that takes my eager-to-lounge-not-luxuriate-over-details pace to heart.

But that doesn’t mean my popcorn has to be the same every time I make it. In fact, with just a few twists of the wrist and pinch of the fingers, popcorn can go from zero to hero. The following three easy popcorn recipes are testament to just that. Enjoy!

1. Chocolate Popcorn

It doesn’t get much easier than this. Melt your favorite chocolate bar (preferably 70 percent cacao or above) and drizzle over popcorn. Add a few dashes of cayenne for extra oomph. I find this popcorn fit for a chick flick or any movie that pulls at the emotional strings. Be still heart, chocolate is here.

2. “Cheesy” Popcorn

I make this version of popcorn when I’m feeling particularly peckish and incapable of controlling how much I’m munching (read: inhaling). Instead of using real cheese, I opt for something I know isn’t weighing me down as much but still provides the savory cheesy overtones I crave: nutritional yeast. Simply season the popcorn with garlic salt and nutritional yeast (excessively, if you must).

3. Gourmet Popcorn

Eh, not so gourmet, but the ingredients are high quality on this one and the result is nothing short of what you’d discover as a trendy restaurant’s rendition of complementary bread. Got a grater? Good. Take any cheese you have on hand, preferably a hard goat or sheep-based one, and grate it generously over warm popcorn. Season with salt, pepper, and dried thyme.

Aylin Erman is founder of GlowKitchen. There she shares step-by-step picture recipes of her plant-based creations. Aylin lives and works in Istanbul as a writer and editor at the country’s first-ever green-living and sustainability platform, Yesilist. Like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter to keep up with food news and recipes.

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