While cooking, listen to this: Hey Ya - OutKast

As I write this post, I am in the midst of some serious Monday blues. Most of the time I enjoy working at my full time job, but there are definitely times, especially on Mondays, when things feel slow and hard to wade through. It almost feels like a heavy blanket - everything feels that much harder to do because of the extra weight and pressure.

This isn't a foreign feeling to me, and I'm sure it isn't to many of you either.

At these times, my mind tends to wander to places that make me feel brighter. New recipe ideas, activities planned for that night or the weekend and a good perusing of Pinterest can do the trick. What seems to be helping today is the thought of these popsicles - sure, alcohol feels pretty necessary after a day like today (in moderation, of course), but what I really love about these is their color. While the majority of my wardrobe is black, I have a soft spot for colorful lipsticks and foods, especially if they're pink. These popsicles combine some of my favorite things: prosecco, citrus, ombre and a gorgeous shade of pink. Just thinking about these is making me feel a little bit lighter and brighter already.

This recipe is very easy, it just takes some time management since each layer needs to freeze a bit before moving on to the next. They can also be adjusted for your tastes - if you prefer your pops on the sour side, simply omit the simple syrup and add more juice. Feel free to adjust the prosecco-juice ratio as well, keeping in mind that the more prosecco you use, the less time they'll stay frozen for.

I'm really interested in what brings you out of your slump - let me know in the comments below or at hello@gateaugato.com.

Love and meows, Rina

ombre citrus prosecco popsicles

Yield: 6 Popsicles

Active Cook Time: 10m | Inactive Cook Time: 8h (you want these babies frozen solid)

Category: Sweet, Vegan

Special equipment: Popsicle molds with sticks (we use these), liquid measuring cup

Ingredients

simple syrup (optional, for sweeter pops):

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup water

citrus layers:

1 cup prosecco

Juice of 2 pink grapefruits

Juice of 2 oranges

Juice of 3 lemons

Instructions

If using, prepare the simple syrup: in a sauce pan, heat the sugar and water on medium until dissolved. Make sure to stir every once in a while so it doesn't burn. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat. Allow to cool before using.

Prepare the layers: in a liquid measuring cup (preferably one with a little spout/divet for pouring) add some prosecco and grapefruit juice, adjusting to how sour or citrusy you want your pops to be. Once you have the right ratio, and have added any simple syrup if you want, pour into your popsicle molds, filling a third of each one. Add the popsicle sticks, and allow to set in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Repeat the same steps for the orange and lemon layers, making sure to freeze between the two.

To serve: after allowing the pops to freeze for eight hours or overnight, simply run the molds under warm water for a couple of seconds to remove them easily. Serve immediately!

To keep: these keep super well in the freezer, so they're a great make-ahead dessert!