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Helen Hunt; singles and money; grudges

Helen Hunt on her role as a sex surrogate in The Sessions; Diana Henry makes chutney; the financial impact of being single; and why do we hang on to grudges? With Jane Garvey.

Helen Hunt on her role as a sex surrogate in The Sessions. Singles and money - how being on your own affects you financially. Holding a grudge, large or small, can make for great literature but grudges in real life rarely lead to happiness - we discuss with Erin Kelly and Lucy Beresford. Diana Henry shows Jane Garvey how to make chutney. We look ahead to the latest Women in the Workplace witness session which will talk to Maria Miller MP and Jo Swinson MP.

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58 minutes

Chapters

  • Helen Hunt

    On her oscar nominted role as a sex surrogate in the film The Sessions.

    Duration: 10:18

  • Singles and money

    Sarah Pennells, Savvywoman on financial decisions for the single person.

    Duration: 12:02

  • Is legislation to tackle inequality working?

    With the Business Innovation and Skills committee chair Adrian Bailey MP

    Duration: 05:36

  • Diana Henry - Chutney

    Diana shows Jane how to make chutneys

    Duration: 06:56

  • Grudges

    Erin Kelly and Lucy Beresford discuss.

    Duration: 07:00

Helen Hunt

The actress Helen HuntÌýhas been has been nominatedÌýfor anÌýOscar in the best supporting actress category for her latest movie, 'The Sessions'. The film is based on the true story of theÌýAmerican journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, who, at 38 and paralysed by polio, is determined to finally lose his virginity. He is visited by a sex surrogate played by Helen. She joins Jane to discuss. The Sessions is released in cinemas on FridayÌý18th January.

Singles and money

How does being on yourÌýown affect you financially. As part of singles week on Woman's Hour, we hear from single women who feel penalised just because they’re not part of a couple.Ìý Many are fed up with paying single supplements on holidays and hotel rooms. Personal Finance expert Sarah Pennells from discusses with JaneÌýthe pitfalls, and gives advice on how singletons can make financially astute decisions.

Is legislation to tackle inequality working? Government ministers face questions:

Over the past two months, parliament has been scrutinising women’s progress in the workplace and hearing from leading business people - as well as Woman’s Hour listeners who’ve submitted their own evidence. Today it’s the turn of equalities ministers Conservative Maria Miller MP and Lib Dem Jo Swinson MP to face the Westminster parliamentary inquiry into whether legislation to tackle inequality is really working. Business Innovation and Skills committee chair Adrian Bailey MP (Lab) will join Jane tto discuss. The ministers give evidence to the inquiry at 11.00 and you can watch the session live online at:

Diana Henry - Chutneys

On a recent visit to her kitchen, theÌýfood writer Diana Henry showed Jane how to make two contrasting chutneys from her book on preserving, ‘Salt, Sugar, Smoke’.


COCONUT AND CORIANDER CHUTNEY

Fills 1 x 225g (8 OZ) jar

1/2 tsp cumin seeds
50g (1 3/4 oz) coriander leaves
100g (3 1/2 oz) creamed coconut from a block, or fresh coconunt, grated
2 green chilies, halved, deseeded and roughly chopped.
3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
2.5cm (1in) square piece of fresh root ginger, roughly chopped
finely grated zest of 1 lime and juice of 2
salt
3 tsp caster sugar, for a sweet version (or to taste)

1. Put the cumin seeds in a pan and toast until fragrant (about 40 seconds). Put everything except the sugar in a food processor and whizz to a paste. For a sweet version, whizz again with the added sugar.

2. Transfer to a sterilized jar (if you are going to eat it on the same day you can put it in a bowl and cover with cling film). This is delicious fresh, but can be stored for four days in the refrigerator.

Ìý

TERESA'S DATE AND APPLE CHUTNEY

Ìý
Fills 2 x 500g (1 1b 2 oz) jars
1.5kg (3lb 5oz) cooked apples, peeled cored and very finely chopped or cut in to small chunks
500g (1 1lb 2oz) onions, finely chopped,
500g (1 1lb 2oz) stoned dates, finely chopped
1/2 tbsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
500g (1 1b 2oz) demerara sugar
300 ml (1/2 pint) malt vinegar

1. Put all the ingredients into your preserving pan except the sugar and half the vinegar. Turn the heat to medium and allow to cook, stirring every so often. The apples will soon start to throw out their own juice and provide enough moisture to keep the whole thing going. Reduce the heat to very low and cook for an hour, until everything is really soft.

2. Add the sugar and the rest of the vinegar and stir well. Continue to cook, stirring every so often and keeping an eye on it, for another one and a half to two hours. The chutney should be thick, dark and very soft. It is ready to pot when, if you drag your wooden soon through it, a slight channel is formed that doesn't immediately fill up. Don't take it too far though, you want a moist chutney.

3. Pot in warm sterilized jars, cover with waxed paper discs and seal with vinegar-proof lids. Leave for at least two weeks before eating and preferably longer. The flavour will get better over time. It will keep for a year.
Ìý

Grudges

Tales of grudges and revenge often make for great literature but grudges in real life rarely lead to happy relationships.Ìý That doesn’t stop us holding them - large or small, they are surprisingly common, with siblings, friends, work colleagues, ex-lovers, even current partners.Ìý A longstanding grudge leading to crazed revenge is at the heart ofÌýErin Kelly'slatest psychological thriller. and psychotherapist Ìýjoin Jane to discuss.

Ìý

Happy Relationships At home, work & play by Lucy Beresford

The Burning AirÌý Erin Kelly

Broadcast

  • Tue 15 Jan 2013 10:00

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