Orange Mango Nut Bread with Ginger Honey Butter

I first discovered that we had a fruit-bearing tree in our yard the day I pulled up to my driveway to find a woman positioned on my front lawn, bracing a ladder. A man teetered on the top rung in an effort to reach small, red, not-quite-ripe-looking plums from the upper branches. “Can I help you with something?” was the best I could come up with at the time, I was so dumbfounded by the situation. The woman just smiled and commented, “There are lots up near the top!” I parked my car and just let them continue – I sure as heck wasn’t going to climb the tree to retrieve anything myself. Eventually the man came down from the ladder (as I was mentally reviewing our insurance policy), offered me some of the plums (so kind of him, right?) and they went off on their merry way.

I remembered this odd encounter last week on a much-needed day spa trip as I noticed a maintenance worker reach up and snip a ripe orange from a tree. We’ve been eating citrus like mad in our house for the past month, but the idea of plucking one straight from the tree just seemed so…lovely.

I’m nowhere near as brazen as the folks on my front lawn so I refrained from picking the oranges at the spa, but I did buy a big bag of clementines the next time I did my grocery shopping. I parlayed several of them into this incredible Orange Mango Nut Bread, the recipe for which I found inside a Challenge butter package. Like all the butter company recipes I’ve previously shared on this blog, there’s definitely some butter involved. It’s super-moist and citrusy and the little chunks of dried mango and pecans give it a really nice texture. You really don’t need the Ginger Honey Butter, but if you decide to spread some on you’ll appreciate the sweet-spiciness the ginger brings to the mix.

Orange Mango Nut Bread with Ginger Honey Butter

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8 Comments

  1. Jessica wrote:

    This sounds so good! But what really has me drooling is that Ginger Honey Butter! YUM!

    Posted 1.26.12 Reply
  2. Sounds wonderful with a cup of tea and I love the ginger honey butter!

    Posted 1.26.12 Reply
  3. Jeanette wrote:

    Love the combination of orange and mango in this nut bread. Last summer, we stayed in a house that had a big fruit orchard in back and I picked fresh guavas, limes and lemons (just the low hanging fruit – I didn’t get up on a ladder either).

    Posted 1.27.12 Reply
    • I remember your Hawaii trip, Jeanette – it sounded like true paradise!

      Posted 1.27.12 Reply
  4. Amy wrote:

    I love this story. Started my very early morning off with a giggle.

    Posted 1.27.12 Reply
  5. Mansi wrote:

    Just stumbled over to your blog and I’m glad I did! love your concept, and this rich fruit bread looks amazing! loved the inspiration behind it too, funny how a simple third-party act can stir us up!:)

    Posted 1.27.12 Reply
  6. My husband is a huge fan of mango and ginger. He’s going to love this recipe!

    Posted 1.27.12 Reply
  7. kellypea wrote:

    Hilarious story, but not surprising. There’s quite a movement in So Cal regarding urban foraging. I wonder how long they staked out up your place before they attacked? Lovely bread — I’ve been craving something with bright flavors like this!

    Posted 1.30.12 Reply