Part I of the #ASD13DaysofHorror Instagram Challenge
Prompt: Clowns
If you're a horror fan and somebody says "clowns," I guarantee the first one you think of is Pennywise from Stephen King's It. Let's be real, King has arguably created the most notorious scary clown to date. Between his yellow fangs, ability to transform into your worst fear, and tendency to hide in gutters, Pennywise easily holds a place in the nightmares of adults and children alike. I know many people have confided in me that their fear of clowns developed after glimpsing Pennywise in the television miniseries as a kid.
It is one of King's most popular stories thanks to the film adaptations. The novel was first published in 1986 and follows a group of kids (and later as adults) as they fight off "it," an alien creature that has invaded Derry's sewer system. They soon realize that the creature feeds off fear and can transform into an individual's worst nightmare. In 1990, It was adapted into a television miniseries starring Tim Curry as Pennywise. More recently, It (Chapter One) was released in 2017.
So, why a clown? Originally "it" was going to be a troll. However, King once said in an interview that he wanted the creature to represent something that children hated and feared the most—clowns. How ironic is it that we often see them at birthday parties? The parents who hire these innocent entertainers for their children may actually be traumatizing them. Who knows, maybe one of them will grow up to write the next great killer clown novel.
“And a balloon? I’ve got red and green and yellow and blue…”
“Do they float?”
“Float?” The clown’s grin widened. “Oh yes, indeed they do. They float…”
-Stephen King (It)
Whatcha Drinkin'?
Sticking with the fall theme, I’ve chosen to pair this novel with a delicious Apple Cinnamon Martini. The cinnamon flavor is achieved by infusing apple cider with cinnamon sticks and lemon juice. It’s a much fresher and natural way to obtain that autumn flavor without buying artificially flavored cinnamon vodka.
Gulp this down while checking out It. Be prepared, It is King’s second-longest book coming in at 1,138 pages. But I promise you it’s so worth it! If you ever want to consider yourself a true King fan, it (pun intended) is a mandatory read.
Apple Cinnamon Martini
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Yield: 2 servings
Total Time: 20 minutes
What You Need:
- 2 cups apple cider
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ lemon juiced
- ¼ cup vodka
What You Do:
1. In a small saucepan combine apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat, and let simmer for three minutes.
2. Remove pot from heat. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature.
3. Set cinnamon sticks aside. Add cooled apple cider mixture to a shaker filled with ice. Top with vodka. Shake vigorously for twenty seconds.
4. Strain into martini glasses. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and lemon slice if desired.