Thoughts on Jonghyun

I learned through friends and All Kpop that SHINee's leader, Jonghyun passed away from suicide. For fans, like a friend of mine, a light was dimmed forever.

We will never fully understand his thoughts leading up to his death...but from just observation, the K-pop culture lended a hand in that direction. Years of training, years of pushing, practices, non-stop schedules, all the doings of labels trying to milk their artists.

The signs were there, although maybe not as clear as others. He was given help, talked to a shrink, only to not really receive any help for goodness sakes.

When I think about all the artists in the same boat, it makes me fearful that they will one day "snap". When will companies stop monopolizing their times and energues?

As fans, there is not much we can do except to be supportive. As friends and family members...if you love and care for someone, you help them get help. If something doesn't work, keep trying.

Now, I can't be entirely sure that everything that could be done was done. But I wonder if someone had asked themselves if it was enough?

Keep trying. Don't give up. Depression and suicical thoughts are hard to deal with. Scary too. I personally have a friend that I am trying to help keep her head up. It is damn tiring. But you know what? I would rather be tired than knowing I did nothing. Try. Help anyone you know with thoughts like these. Don't turn your head and look the other way. Help.

RIP Jonghyun. A light dimmed below, now shining brightly above.

Foodie Recipe! Easy Fried Shrimp Puffs

FOODIE RECIPE: 

EASY FRIED SHRIMP PUFFS

Hi there! Hope you're doing well!

As you can see from the gap between this post and the last post, I was taking a break, a really long one, from K-Drama recaps and news. But I wanted to share this really easy recipe that I had done (really, it is super easy!) of a dumpling that I've been eating at Chinese Dim Sum houses/restaurants all over. (This is not a recipe from a restaurant, it is my interpretation of it.)

I have been a fan of dim sum since my nephew introduced it to me, hmmm, about 10 years ago? And one of my faves is this deep fried shrimp dumpling. If you've made crab rangoons before, you will find that this is way easier and faster than making those.



All you need is:
Won Ton Wrappers - I chose the square won ton wrappers
Medium to Large Raw Shrimp (about 10-12 of them depending on how many you're going to feed, or eat)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Vegetable oil to fry


1. Remove shells from shrimp. It's easier if you remove the tail first. Everything else comes off after that.
2. De-vein the shrimp. You can de-vein them by slicing into the middle of their backs, following the curve of the shrimp. Remove the black/blue vein.
3. Wash the shrimp.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Wrap shrimp into a little pouch, or, like my photo, into a little roll. Make sure to use a little water to moisten the edge you are sealing.
6. In a wok or deep pot, prepare your oil by heating it on high, and then once it's ready, turn it down to medium high. Once you begin to see some bubbles forming and rising to the top, it is ready. Or, if you're still unsure, drop a little piece of won ton wrapper and see if it starts to fry up.
7. Little by little, drop your shrimp pouches/rolls into the oil, being careful to let it go away from you so you don't get hot oil on yourself. Immediately move them around so they can begin to cook all the way.
8. Once the wrappers turn a little golden brown, they are ready. If the wrapper turns too brown too fast, turn down your heat.
9. Remove from the oil and drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.

Serve with honey mayo dipping sauce! Recipe found here. (Unfortunately, it is not mine.)

That's it! Hope you like it! Nom nom nom nom!

U-Kiss Eli's First Trip to Hawaii

U-Kiss fans in Hawaii have been buzzing in excitement after seeing U-Kiss cutie, Eli, posting he was heading to Hawaii on his Twitter account.

Side note: I loved him in K-Pop Tasty Road with NS Yoon-G! And was so excited that he was visiting. Apparently he is also here for Full House China, a drama that he is currently promoting. I hope the weather cooperates for them!

Almost 12 hours later, must've had some layovers, he finally arrived and posted a video of himself settling in to a Waikiki hotel (exact location kept under wraps by yours truly, but if you do some sleuthing, you will know, hehe.) and enjoying the beautiful sunset. He admitted it was his first time to Hawaii. Glad it was actually sunny and not rainy as this is the middle of hurricane season!



He then ventured out to meet U-Kiss' former manager, Jun Kamitoku, who moved out to Hawaii with his family and opened up a pop-up lunchwagon called Kamitoku Ramen. Honestly, the guy does make some really good ramen! (Yelp rates his business with 4+ stars!) And now with Eli's video out to the masses, he is guaranteed to get more businesses. Good for him!

 

Welcome to Hawaii, Eli! We hope you enjoy your stay in our lovely, yet expensive, state!

Credit Eli Kim's Instagram @elikim91.