Ever wonder how to make guacamole? Just whip together this delicious blend of your favorite fresh ingredients.—Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Dip into Alton Brown's kicked-up Guacamole recipe, loaded with jalapenos, tomatoes and cilantro, from Good Eats on Food Network.

Cilantro and cayenne give this classic guacamole a tasty kick. Serve it smooth or chunky.

There are two big things Congress needs to get done this fall.

It's day 29 of the government shutdown, and hundreds of thousands of government workers have been furloughed for four weeks. Follow here for the latest.

Latest updates from Capitol Hill and the White House

The White House is seeking a short-term bill to avert a government shutdown and punt the fight until soon after the November elections, according to a proposal sent to Capitol Hill, setting up a potential clash with Democrats ahead of high-stakes negotiations this month.

Congress needs to pass a government spending bill before Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown.

The House approved a government spending bill Tuesday in hopes of averting a government shutdown that would rock the country in eight days in the midst of a global pandemic.

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a bill to keep the government running into December after funding briefly lapsed.