What can I add to make this a romantic meal?

Wow - you're planning this 3 months in advance? Good for you (and him)

Stuffed shells is a good one. Try cooking some sausage or meatballs in with the sauce.

Try adding a nice Caesar salad and some crusty bread (hold the garlic!)

Serve a nice wine, either red or white.

Appetizer?? Maybe brushetta(spelled wrong?) or some cheese, grapes, and crackers.

Good Luck and thanks to him for his service

When I make stuffed shells, I normally used crumbled ham, sausage or beef.. Or a mixture of the three. Depending on the salt-intensity of your cheeses, you should use a meet to compliment that fact. If you're using a more rich cheese with less salt in it, use ham. If you're using a salty cheese, use beef or sausage.

Also, for a salad, try a spinach salad with sauteed chicken strips (sauteed in balsamic vinagraitte) I know my beau loved this.. and it puts a certain atmosphere in to the kitchen that can be carried outwards after the meal. ;)

Make sure that you have some good freshly baked bread with Extra virgin olive oil. Have Broiled Zucchini and Potatoes, with turkey sausage and chestnut stuffing. A good cup of hot coffee, than a nice cold bottle of wine. Enjoy the night with you as dessert.

Whenever I make stuffed shells I like to add very thinly sliced or diced proscuitto, a small amount of very tiny diced combo of onion and garlic, fresh parsley and don't forget a couple dashes of nutmeg!! ( combined with the usual ricotta, egg, salt, pepper, parmesan/romano, and dash of dried oregano and basil of course) Make it with a nice homeade chunky tomato sauce: fresh plum tomatos (diced) onion and garlic, fresh basil and parsley, salt, pepper and olive oil. Sautee the garlic and onion in the olive oil first then add everything else and simmer on low until it achieves a saucy but chunky consistancy.

I'd choose sausages with sauteed peppers and onion (get crazy, maybe throw in some mushrooms and sundried tomatoes).

A nice green salad is a must, a crusty bread (not garlic) and a bottle of Chianti. Bon Appetito

A good bread always works with Italian food and it doesn't have to be garlic bread. Meat balls and/or Italian sausage. Antipasto salad and a nice bottle of wine. Don't forget the candles!

i'm guessing a nighttime in at a budget particularly than eating out at a budget? counting on how solid a cook dinner you're relies on what you may cook dinner yet how a pair of large sparkling tomato, basil and mozzerella salad for starter, some thing with pasta (spag bol, lasagna etc.) for significant and than a shop offered desolate tract? Have on soft music, candles on the table and in step with risk a bottle of wine and, howdy presto, you're all finished. desire you come across the suited menu and function a large night - appreciate!

if you're shells are stuffed with cheeses then maybe have chicken parmigan (sorry bad spelling) with it and a green salad on the side. serve lots of 'light' red wine like a pinot gris or gamay noir, even a table wine will do. wear something not TOO sexy to tantalize him though i'm sure he won't need too much seducing

meatballs and sausage in a red sauce go great with stuffed shells

also a nice cesear salad and some fresh italian bread would work nicely.

but after being in Afghanistan im sure all he is really gonna want is you and lots of you

best wishes

A lasagna made with hot or mild Italian sausage is good, then for dessert a nice lite gelato...yummy, in his fave flavor of course. Good luck with the home coming...prayers for his safe return!! :)