The calm before the fashionable storm

Tomorrow evening the Forever Better team and a group of lucky bloggers (and competition winners!) are off to Jasper Garvidas catwalk show, which will be showcasing his 2010 Autumn/Winter collection.

Jasper is a familiar name to many, having won project catwalk in 2008 and previously being employed by a string of well known high street stores to design fashionable clothing for their range.

As many of you may know, Miele are the official sponsors of Jasper Garvida, who appreciates how important good garment care really is!

Here at Forever Better, we’re all feeling quite ecstatic about seeing Jaspers beautiful creations up close, a feeling that is shared by one of our guests, from 40notout, who has written a post detailing how excited she is -

“This is a big deal for a girl like me and just like a certain fellow fashion blogger who has also received some invites and hasn’t told anyone, I was shocked and overwhelmed to actually receive them. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of, well my dreams at least and to say I’m excited would be the understatement of the year!”

Stay tuned for a write up of the event and lots of pictures early next week.

Bronwyn’s thoughts on the Miele Steam Oven

Bronwyn of practicallydaily is the latest lucky trialist of the fabulous Miele steam oven. As is evident from her recent posts, she seems to be enjoying trying out the ovens many functions and thinking of new recipes to try!

Previously, before life with a Miele steam oven, Bron used to bypass any delicious recipes that required steaming as she felt her existing saucepan and steamer combination wasn’t able to do the job when it came to certain things.

“I have a largish saucepan with a steamer that sits on the top that I have used sporadically but the steamer section is not very big and so works for, say, fish fillets but not much else. So when I am riffling through I tend to stop and think, mmmmm that sounds good and then I turn the page till I find something I can stirfry or simmer on the hob. I’m aware I’m missing out but till now I’ve not realised quite how much.”

Fortunately she’s now able to give steaming a try and has been singing its praises.

“The major discovery for me has been the way steaming creates an extraordinary delicacy of flavour and a new succulent texture, just a complete wow! In every mouthful. Crisp veg stays crispier and the pork in this dish took juicy to a new level. And all so very simple.”

To try one of the steaming recipes that Bron has been using with the steam oven, have a read of the instructions below.

Steamed Pork and Blackbeans

500g pork spare rib chops, diced into large cubes
2 tspn light soy sauce
1 tbspn shaoxing wine
2 tspns finely chopped ginger
2 tbspn blackbeans, rinsed
1/2 tspn chilli flakes
2 tspn lard - optional

Bring a pan of water to the boil and blanch the pork for a minute. Drain.

Put the meat into a heat proof bowl and mix with the soy, shaioxing and ginger. Top with the black beans, chilli and lard if using (I did and it added a lovely mouth feel to the final dish). Steam any which way for about 40 minutes.

If you’d like to trial a Miele steam oven, send Claire an email on Claire@Foreverbetter.co.uk and we’ll get right back to you.

Jasper Garvida Competition

It’s your last chance to win some tickets!

Our competition to win one of five pairs of tickets to Jasper Garvida’s London Fashion show courtesy of Miele is coming to an end. We have received some fantastic entries so far, but we are giving you another day to enter. Take a look at the pictures of one of Jasper’s fashion shows for some encouragement!

All you need to do is send us an email telling us why you would like to win a pair of tickets to Jasper’s show.

Good luck, we will be announcing the winners on Wednesday.

Don’t forget about the Miele Fashion Prize competition. The winner of which will be working with Jasper to create a dress that will be modeled at an exclusive fashion event during the summer. If that wasn’t enough they’ll also receive £1000 worth of Miele appliances for their home! You can see the dress from last year’s winner here, worn by Camilla Dallerup of Strictly Come Dancing fame. We’ve got more coming soon on the 2010 Miele Fashion Prize so be sure to check back.

OutdoorsMagic on washing machines

OutdoorsMagic, a forum designed to bring outdoor enthusiasts together, has been discussing washing machines. It all began when Metric Kate asked about replacing her old machine.

There are a couple of pages worth of responses and amongst them is support for a variety of brands including Miele. The first contributor to bring them up is Mr Sworld, an owner of a Miele fridge/freezer, dishwasher and vacuum,

“Splash the cash and buy a Miele, still a family owned company, German engineering and they last forever! They will give you 20 year guarantees!”

His recommendation is echoed by user david creighton, and Colm ab Ifan cites the Which? surveys as his reason for choosing Miele. Where as rob s puts in rather plain English,

“Go Miele they are the mutt’s nuts, my parents is over 10 years old, in a hard water area and going strong. At Uni one of my house mates brought along a 20 year old one and it lasted the 2 years of abuse we gave it, we own one and it’s great.”

To read the full thread click through.

New washing machine for the new year?

At the Digitalworldz forums Shindig is after exactly that, a new washing machine for the new year and has his eye firmly on the January sales. He started the thread ‘Recommend a decent washing machine‘,

“Well our loyal washing machine has finally had it after a good number of years. Was hoping there would be a few people here that have bought a washing machine in recent times, that could recommend a few good models to go for.”

Shindig wasn’t wrong; he’s been offered plenty of advice and among the brands suggested Miele has appeared more than once or twice. Langland puts Miele at the top of his choices and Maryhinge suggests succinctly ‘Miele without a doubt’. It is arguably Frenchman though who gives the most hearty testimonial,

“I wouldn’t buy anything else other than a Miele, yes they are a few quid more but will last the test of time, and come top in the Which? tests.”

If you’re looking for a new washing machine and want to read what is being said, the full thread is here.