The Daily Dish: December 24, 2015

Today's first course?

Which Presidential Candidate Swears by Raw Jalapeño Peppers as a Weight Loss Secret?

As the list of White House contenders gets slimmer, so must the remaining presidential candidates, who face plenty of fried forms of stress relief on the campaign trail. For the current generation of nominees, the pressure to look fit for the job is particularly intense. And for Hillary Clinton, whose looks have constantly been a subject of media coverage, warranted or otherwise, there's little wiggle room. Clinton's diet has been about avoiding the extra pounds that come with the stress of constant competition and the many campaign stops where restauranteurs try their best to be seen feeding the potential next president. At the moment, her biggest dietary aid is the raw hot pepper — specifically jalapeños if available, which Clinton finds "so refreshing." 

Pumpkin Seeds and Pesto: Here Are the Recipes Everyone Was Googling in 2015

As 2015 comes to an end, several search engines are releasing their most popular searches — and Google is no exception. Google has compiled a list of the top 10 most-Googled recipe search terms of the year, and there are definitely some surprises in the bunch, like apparently this year everyone really wanted to cook with cabbage. Some other popular recipes include turkey chili, pancakes, and apple pie. For the complete list and to see the most searched recipe of the year, check this story out in our Eat/Dine section on The Daily Meal.

Russia Reportedly Opening Fast Food Chain in North Korea's Capital, Pyongyang

Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, will soon to be home to a couple of fast food chains, plus a few pharmacies and a taxi company, according to a Facebook announcement from the Russian embassy in North Korea. According to a North Korean news outlet based in Washington, the investment from a Russian company, Eastern Trading House, is one of many signs that "Russia's economic cooperation with North Korea will deepen in the long term." Pyongyang is already home to some fast food restaurants, including hamburger restaurants and a "McDonald's-style" fast food restaurant that closely resembled the American burger chain, North Korean defectors told NK News.  

That's today's Daily Dish, thanks for watching. Stop by tomorrow for another helping.