The Chelsea Milling Company of Michigan has been milling flour in the same family since the early 1800′s. In the 1930′s, Mabel White Holmes, grandmother of Howdy S. Holmes as quoted above, was inspired to seek a solution after watching a single father make rather indigestable biscuits for his kids. A few years of trial and error, and the first Jiffy baking mix was born. This my friends was the advent of the pre-packaged baking mix in the US, allowing the culinarily deficient to whip up cakes or biscuits, just by adding milk or water.
Jiffy baking mixes are still packaged in the same heritage forty-ounce blue box with the words “Quality and value since 1930″. EG obviously couldn’t resist the pull of nostalgia (he has a penchant for such things), and picked up this pack for a very reasonable and somewhat nostalgically priced $1.95 from the David Jones Food Hall.
This stuff is dead easy to make – all you need to do is add water, stir (but not too much), pour spoonfuls into a hot buttered pan, and voila. Fluffly maple-flavoured American style pancakes. Mmm. And if you’re so inclined, the same mix will make waffles too!
But I did go one lil’ step further by serving them in a short stack, topped with caramelised peaches and a tart natural yoghurt. The benefits of the yoghurt and fruit was possibly (or should that be absolutely) outweighed by the generous glug of maple syrup afterwards. But heck, what is a gourmand-girl to do 
Wow! $1.95 a box. That does seem like quite a bargain. Being around since 1930s I bet they leave shake-a-pancake for dead!
Nice stack. You can never have too much maple syrup.
Hey Ali – uh huh, dirt cheap, eh? Apparently the product is ridiculously cheap because the company doesn’t advertise and they also manufacture their packaging onsite at the mill. Therefore there are not many overheads, keeping the costs down. And yes, it does leave shake-a-pancake for dead!
Hiya lucy – ahh, you are a girl after my own heart
Oh yum. Will have to pick some of this up next week, for sure!
How did these Jiffy’s taste? =)
Hey anna – you can pick some up from DJ’s or the American Food Store in East Bentleigh.
Hi …marina – these Jiffy’s tasted great! Yes, they were sweeter than I would probably make them from scratch (but then, they are maple “flavoured”), but as far as packet mixes goes, it was good!
whats this fruity bizzo, wheres the crispy bacon. Its about time you put some real food on here that i can relate too. I think you need to send me a packet so i can give you a serious appraisal. Ciao for now…………..Dad
Hey Dad…haa, too funny. Consider a package sent up to you for testing purposes
But remember – you must put maple syrup with that bacon. Mmmmm.