Healthy Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cake - With Regenerative Skin Care Benefits

That's right Gorgeous, here is a delicious cake recipe that will have you begging for seconds and help regenerate stressed and damaged tissue at the same time. My BFF, Cassie (aka Liscious) gave me this recipe yesterday and I can't stop raving about it.

Cassie's husband was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer. That's right, I said rectal. Get over it and start bringing some attention to this very real form of cancer. As a result of the diagnosis, Cassie and her husband have made significant life changes to their diet, especially trying to eliminate as much refined sugar, dairy, and white flour as possible. She has educated me more than I could ever imagine about the dangers of sugar and dairy and the effects it can have on our bodies.

Also, I've recently discovered the benefits of using Grape seed Oil as opposed to other forms of oil for baking and cooking. Guess what ladies, the benefits of this oil are astounding. This oil is actually great for reducing LDL- cholesterol levels (those are the bad ones) and increasing HDL levels (those would be the good ones). Yeah, yeah, I know who cares if you're still young, right? Well, check this out:

"Grape seed oil is a preferred cosmetic ingredient for damaged and stressed tissues, possessing regenerative and restructuring qualities which allow for strong control of skin moisturization. It can help skin retain the normal structure of epithelium cells and nerve cells via supporting the cell membranes". (You can even use it around your eyes to help reduce and prevent fine lines).

(Nash, DT (2004). "Cardiovascular risk beyond LDL-C levels: Other lipids are performers in cholesterol story". Postgraduate Medicine 116 (3): 11–5.)

Alright ladies, take out your booty shorts and grab your apron (my man LOVES that) and let's get baking! Here's what you'll need:

Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cake Recipe

2 2/3 cup Brown Rice Flower

1 cup Agave Nectar

2 teaspoons Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup low-fat vanilla soy milk

1/2 cup water

3/4 cup Grape seed Oil (**warning: not to be used if family or friend is undergoing chemotherapy)

1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract

2 Eggs

1 cup of mini chocolate chips **(these aren't too high in sugar, so we throw them in as a treat, you can eliminate them and the cake is still super yummy)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prep your cake pan(s) for baking. I have heart shaped silicone ones that don't stick, but if you don't have those, you may want to grease and flour your pan.

Mix the flour, agave, baking powder, and salt. Combine soy milk, water, grape seed oil, eggs and vanilla in separate bowl and whisk until mixed. Then combine all ingredients, mix until smooth. Add chocolate chips.

Pour into cake pan(s) and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Let cool and serve for IMMEDIATE yumminess! We had it for breakfast with mixed berries for added fiber and antioxidants.

Let me know what you think and until then, stay GORGEOUS!