National Movie Night

You probably read the title of this and are thinking, “I've never heard of National Movie Night.” Neither had I, but I’m here to change that for all of us.

National Movie Night only comes around once a year on August 15. It was created simply for the fun of it! It’s the perfect chance for those in a high-pressure and serious job to ditch the business casual for a day and put on their favorite, comfy movie-watching clothes. In addition to being very enjoyable, dedicating an evening to watching movies has proven to make you more relaxed and rejuvenated, and National Movie Night provides the perfect opportunity to test that theory yourself!

At the end of your workday (when you’ve gotten more done in one day than ever before, I’m sure), you get to go home, curl up on the couch, and dive into your favorite movies, but you need a snack… and that’s where we come in. We have, for you, the best cozy evening popcorn snack you’ve ever had in your life. Two words. Garlic. Parmesan. Need I say more?

For the perfect cozy night to celebrate National Movie Night, whip up this recipe in no time. Curl back up on the couch with your bowl of popcorn and turn on your favorite movie. Sounds like the perfect day to me. (recipe adapted from threeolivesbranch.com)

Garlic Parmesan Popcorn
Here's what you’ll need:

• 3 Tablespoon of vegetable oil (plus more for dressing)
• 1/2 cup of unpopped Amish Country Popcorn
• 2 1/2 Tablespoons of ground Parmesan cheese (canned)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• Pinch of ground black pepper

Here's the instructions:
Step 1: Cook the popcorn. Add the oil to a large, 3 quart or larger pot over medium heat. Add the popcorn kernels and cover with the lid ajar.

Step 2: Shake the pot back and forth every few minutes. Remove from the heat when the popping has slowed. Most kernels are popped in approximately 7 minutes. Set aside.

Step 3: While the popcorn is popping, make the seasoning mixture by combining the Parmesan, garlic powder, parsley, and salt. Mix to combine and adjust seasoning to taste.

Step 4: When ready to serve, lightly drizzle the popcorn with approximately 1 teaspoon of oil. Just enough to wet the popcorn without it getting greasy or soggy. Stir to coat. Immediately sprinkle the seasoning on the popcorn and stir again to coat.

Step 5: Enjoy your cozy National Pajama Day!