I'd take a photo of the fruit flies but they're so darned small and so fast I can't even slap them down!
I came home from art camp to a fruit fly infestation. This is bad and I don't know how it happened because I didn't leave any fruits or veggies on the counter or any of the other things Google tells me they like. All I know is that they seem to like it in my house and it's driving me nuts.
So, one takes measures -- I wiped everything down with vinegar. I filled little bowls with vinegar and later, little cups with vinegar and soap, topped with saran wrap with holes poked in it.
Then I got these little traps by Terro. It comes with fly-attracting liquid. It might be helping. Or maybe it's my vinegar. Either way, it's not helping much.
Since they seem to like landing on my little shelf (along with the counter, the window sill, my arm) I added double stick tape to some of their landing place (not my arm). That's somewhat successful. Although I hope I don't pull off paint with the tape.
Mr. Google tells me I might be living with this 2-6 weeks. I have no idea where they have nested but I'm sure they must have. And I suspect they are prolific little critters.
(Adding
about six days later) -- The flies have eased up. It could be the
vinegar/sugar/dish soap method or the Terro fly traps. I don't know -
but the few still here won't be here long!)
Meanwhile, I had fruit and veggies I needed to use. (I was keeping the tomatoes and cucumber for the gazpacho in the garage and in 90 degree weather, it's like a heat box). So, I got up early (the flies seem to sleep in a bit -- not a long enough bit) and chopped, diced and swatted. As I got seeds, cores and all, they went into a bag that went immediately into the outside garbage. I didn't even want to risk the disposal. Done and in the fridge!
Then came the peach crisp. The same thing -- pits and all, out within minutes. It seemed to work. And the blueberry-peach crisp was terrific!
So, here's my recipe for that -- because right now peach season is delivering the most gorgeous, sweet fruit! (This is a riff off of an Ina recipe, which you can find online).
Peach Crisp with Blueberries (you could do this with raspberries, too, like Peach Melba Crisp!)
Enough peaches to fill your baking dish. I used three large ones, sliced. I leave skins on but some like to peel them, which you can do in boiling water (cut an X in the top and dip it about 10 seconds, as you would peel a tomato.
Add the following:
- About a cup of blueberries (I don't think I used that much; mine were on the tail end of life and now feeding birds in my yard.)
- zest and juice of one lemon
- 1/4 c. of sugar
- 2 T. flour
- a pinch of salt
IF you are having a fruit fly problem, after you stir that up, stick it in the fridge while you make the topping.
- 1 c. oatmeal
- 1 c. flour
- 1/2 c. brown sugar
- 1/4 c. white sugar
- pinch salt
- One stick of grated butter (or you can do chunks. I like the grating and recommend doing it frozen or very cold) Mix together with your fingers till the butter is incorporated.
Put the peaches in your dish (I used baking spray and recommend it) and spread the topping over it. Bake at 350 for about an hour (I checked at 45 and 50 minutes and took it out at 50. If you use a smaller pan or ramekins, you'll need to adjust the time accordingly.
Wish me well in the world of fruit flies.
Sharing with: Pink Saturday / Love Your Creativity / All About Home / Share Your Style
51 comments:
Good luck battling the horde!! That crisp looks delicious!
Sorry you're dealing with the fruit flies in your home, Jeanie. I hope you are able to find a way to take care of the problem soon. Living in the mountains, I haven't gotten them, just ants, which are sometimes big ants. Your peach crisp looks scrumptious. Would go nicely with a cup of coffee.
Have a restful weekend, and I wish you well with the fruit flies.
~Sheri
I've also heard molasses works for fruit flies. I haven't tried it though, so maybe I should suggest it. You might end up with more, which would be horrible. Oh blueberries. They are a favorite of mine. I bet with the peaches they taste great. And crisp is always a favorite. I hope to apple pick this weekend and make an apple crisp, with a few blueberries maybe. Smile. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs-Erika
I absolutely hate fruit flies and don't get me started on gnats!
Your fruit crisp looks great. I hate those little fruit flies! Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie
Hello, fruit flies/gnats -- are they any different? Do you have plants in your house? I had an infestation in the soil of one of my house plants a while ago, out went the plant, which unfortunately meant it died as it was cold weather. Those fruit flies/gnats are so annoying and difficult to get rid of, ugh. Good luck with your various attempts. Becky
This sounds like a great recipe and not very hard to make. I might try it. So sorry about your fruit fly problem. I see them in my yard sometimes, but never in my house. LOL.
My favorite 'weapons' against intruders (ants, flies,ticks) are vinegar and water. I get the ants drown with water, I spray flies with vinegar, ticks with either or both. I use no chemicals, and it works.
That sounds terrible! We had a temporary sort-of-house-sitter who left our pantry with what I call "Co-Op Moths" because she bought flour in bulk at the Co-Op where the member-workers aren't well trained or supervised. And she didn't use sealed containers. Anything like that is horrifying. I hope yours go away quickly1
YES, Peaches. I made a crumble/crip a few days ago. Different ratio of fruit and topping to yours but very similar. It was delicious. And I thought of you yesterday when seeing many many herons and egrets.
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Sorry about your FFF infestation, but glad to see that you're not letting them get in the way of some delicious baking. All looks fabulous, totally yummy! (Also, if I can score some peaches this weekend, something fun to try...)
I’m hungry now my friend. Happy long weekend.
Glad the pests are diminishing.
Eerie, I've seen a few recently in my home. I was told they hitchhike on fruit, especially bananas.
They are annoying, aren't they?
Your crisp looks good. I hate those pesky fruit flies!
Oh, no! I had a friend who had them and it was an awful infestation! I wonder if they could be in a houseplant…. Several years ago I brought some into our home from a grocery store potted plant. We got rid of them with a vinegar trap like what you’re doing but we didn’t have that many.
I am so sorry to read about your fruit fly infestation, I do hope by now things have improved.
Your peach crisp looks and sounds delicious.
All the best Jan
nasty little buggers ~ My daughter was getting them from her fruit scented body scrub..so she pitched that right out! Your peach crisp looks yummy!! Enjoy the weekend ~
We rarely if ever have a problem with fruit flies but this year they are enthusiastic. You and Mr. Google are a great team- now i know what to do!
Last summer, I let some bananas get overly ripe and I got an infestation of fruit flies. I sure learned my lesson, because it took about six weeks to get rid of them. At least they are easier to rid than bamboo (grin). Good luck. Really nice recipe, too. Maybe for when it cools a bit in my kitchen, I'll try it.
We have a house fly invasion all of a sudden. Not sure where and how they got in too. Thanks for sharing your recipe. Looks yummy. Janice
Jeanie,
So sorry that you are having to deal with these fruit flies!! I hope you are rid of them soon!! we have been having beautiful weather here....&0's for high's with low humidity and low's in the 50's at night!! Heaven!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!!
Hugs,
Deb
Fruit flies must have been very annoying.
I make crumble often, this is how it's called here. I use a mix of frozen, canned, or fresh fruits and it's delicious every time. I use oil because it gets a bit more crunchy.
Your crisp looks fantastic! I don't have a single piece of fruit in the house right now. This is may be the nudge I need to get out and buy some before everything goes away for the season!
Ugh. We have them, too. Ours seem to love our sink area. I don't know what they're existing on. Soap suds? Heat on the countertop from the dishwasher? I don't have ANY food out. I keep everything in the fridge. I used to keep some things out like normal people (potatoes, onions, etc.) - but we had a mouse problem a couple years ago, and I got in the habit of putting everything in the fridge. Now it's second nature. And we STILL have those 🤬 fruit flies. Double stick tape I hadn't thought of - and I have CASES of it left from the studio when I closed it up! Thanks for the tip!
I never got around to responding to your art camp post! (Our cable went out with the storm and then I just never got back to it. sigh) Looks as if you had a very productive time. I'm not sure I remember everything about the post - I know that you discovered a VERY effective way to paint clouds that worked so well - kudos! I remember a charming painting of a young man (a child/grandchild?) holding a small boy - and a very pink storefront that reminded me of a Paris storefront but it wasn't. LOL Anyway. Lovely stuff (as always!) - and I remember lots of good food in another post. Geesh. I've been so lax! Sounds - and looks - like a grand time.
I have another reason for being lax with my posting. We finally broke down and got a new (even bigger LOL) tv with Fire TV. As if the however-many-hundreds of channels we already got weren't enough, we now have more. And I love it. It's becoming very easy for me to become sedentary in front of the tube with a cup of coffee and a plate of Triscuits LOL. If you are into rather lurid suspenseful thrillers, I recommend Tell Me Your Secrets. It's on Prime Video. So creepy and good! Though I did figure it out before the end.
Well, this is practically a blog post of it's own. Thanks for sharing your week! Enjoy this one!
I had a terrible infestation last year, and cleared them out completely. I used an open soup bowl with some vinegar and sugar -- about 3 Tbsp of each. It took some time, but they couldn't resist, and would drown their little selves in it. Eventually, I stopped measuring the sugar and vinegar and just added a glug of vinegar and a big table spoon of sugar. It seems fruit flies aren't picky.
You can bring fruit flies home from the grocery store with you, and once established they can be difficult to get rid of. And of course they breed.....like flies!
I've never had the fruit fly pest problem but the house fly is enough to put me in a tizzy! Hopefully with all you are doing they will all be history by today. Last summer I had an invasion of wasp inside! Yikes, swatting those can be painful. I have no idea how or why they got inside, hope that never happens again. Yum, your crisp looks delicious! Hope your Labor Day weekend is great....
I hate them with a passion!They also live in sink drains I am told.They love bananas bowls of tomatoes and yeast .
Hoping the fruit flies are just about gone. Ugh! They are a pain. I am surprised I have mostly avoided them this year even with all the plums I have brought into the house. The crisp looks most delicious! I haven't done much baking lately, but this could be very tempting since I have blueberries and peaches right now. Yummm!
I hate those damn little devils. Very hard to get rid of. Hope yours are gone.
I hope you have a handle on the fruit flies. I have had them in the past, not this year though. Hard to say how you get them. When I have had them, so have other people I know.
I am eating an apple crisp as I write you, yours sounds yummy too.
I have darn teeny flies, too, but I think mine are those little ones that come from the soil in my indoor plants. They are always looking for water or light or warmth it seems and too fast to swat most of the time. Usually only would see a few and sometimes not for years, but there are quite a few this year--always flying in my face, little buggers. Been super dry and then so hot and sticky--might be the weather. I need to water the plants with a little dishsoap in the water. I feel your pain! I've had fruit flies in the past, too. Sounds like you are slowly getting rid of them. Whew! Hang in there!
What a terrible experience to come home to after such a relaxed hiatus. Glad you've got it under control. I can see you've turned it into another outlet for artistic expressions. :)
Hi Jeanie, a very cute and artistic rendition to capture your frustration with these little beasts. I had this a couple of years back so I know what you are going through. I also did not know where they came from, they just appeared. I can’t remember what I did to get rid of them either, but am taking note of these remedies just in case. Last month we have had an ant problem. They started coming in after all the rain we’ve had. Not too many each day, but enough for me to feel uneasy as I didn’t want the whole 1,000 members of the family to move in, ha! Your desserts are divinely delicious looking. Thank you very much for the recipes. And good luck with your fruit flies!
Ack. My daughter got them too from plants in water.
Good luck, I know it's frustrating.
Pesky little buggers!
I'll be over for crisp shortly.....I've been vaccinated twice AND will get it again shortly.
Are.You.Kidding.Me?????
I googled. Got apple-juice and vinegar to kill these darn lille "ickies".
I had no fruits out, either!!!
And by now they are gone, too. They drove me plain NUTS!
Nuts they don´t care about. Your cake looks.. well. Sweet. I´m no fruit fly ;-)
I’m hungry now my friend
Fruit flies or gnats, that is the question. We seemed to start having a few of those last winter when we were using our humidifier. I asked our pest control guy, and like one other reader, indicating it may either be a plant's soil (I have none) or water that was attracting them (bingo). They diminished after we put the humidifier away.
Your Peach Crisp looks so delicious! Thanks for the recipe :)
I get those pesky critters when I have a few houseplants for a while. Drive me crazy!
HATE those things. They just seem to APPEAR out of nowhere. Hard to get them gone. The Crisp looks great.
Oh Jeanie, those fruit flys are the dickens to get rid of! We've tried the vinegar method to no avail. Your peach blueberry crisp sure looks great. You are wise to rid all evidence of fruit so as not to attract more of those pesky critters!
I feel your pain. We've had fruit fly problems in the past, and it's no fun at all! This year, we had giant horseflies take over, which looked like jumbo jets flying through the house. Fortunately, they seemed to disappear on their own after a day or two. The peach crisp looks so delicious - I can almost smell it baking through the blogosphere!
Fruit flies are frustrating. I'm glad you've found something that seems to help, and I hope they're gone soon. You managed to make a delightful treat anyway, though. Nice!
Yum, that crisp looks fabulous! I don't get fruit flies but Japanese beetles were my nemesis this summer. Happily, they did not invade my roses but my marigolds. I would have to go out frequently and knock them into a jar of soapy water to get rid of them
I had a horrible fruit fly infestation when I was living in Charlotte. It drove me nuts. I think my problem might have originated in the garbage disposal? So I made sure to run super hot water through the so I and I think I put some vinegar down the sink, too? It’s been 8 years so my memory of the solution is foggy but I vividly remember how awful the problem was. I googled the heck out of it and tried so many things!
That crisp looks and sounds delicious, though!! Yum!!
Oh how terrible! I use white wine placed in a jar and put a slice of banana in it. I cover it with Saran Wrap then poke holes in it. I have great success with that.
Your blueberry crisp looks soooooo good!
Enjoy your week my friend!
Oh, flying insects are horrid. We're having lovely weather again, and the flies have returned, I'm armed with fly spray! Your peach crisp looks scrumptious.
The peach crisp looks wonderful. I don’t like flying insects, especially in the house. Hopefully you are rid of the fruit flies!
The dessert sounds tasty. Hope the flies are no longer causing a problem for you.
The fruit flies are probably in your drains where they like to lay eggs. Put baking soda, then white vinegar down the drain and let sit for ten minutes. Flush with hot water. They can even get in your bathtub or sink drains, so I'd do them all for good measure. You can also vaccuum the air where they are worst and because they are so light, you'll catch quite a few that way!
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