There's nothing like a romantic dinner at home - with just the two of you - to gently nudge your relationship to a deeper level of intimacy. And if you've been together for a while and find you just don't make time for each other like you used to, a romantic dinner can be the perfect way to rekindle the spark of your early days!

What do you need to turn an end-of-the-day meal from just plain "nice" into "knock your socks off romantic"? I'm glad you asked!

Ambience. Think "no (or minimal) electric lights." Place lit jar candles in strategic places - jar candles are guaranteed not to drip! - including the bathroom. If you have a fireplace, use it! There's just some thing about candles that put us "in the mood." I don't know what it is, but I'm not complaining. Maybe it's the increased intimacy of a semi-dark environment. The goal here is to not have to turn on any lights and "break" that mood, even if that means you wait until morning to do the dishes. Remember, if your sweetie has a scent allergy issues, unscented candles work just as well.

Atmosphere. Music - not too loud, and not too raucous. Children and/or pets - elsewhere. Housemates - bribed to go to the movies. Phone - off the hook. Cell phone, pager, computer - off. Television - don't even think about turning on the idiot box! Bed sheets - clean. House - clean. You get the idea.

Attire. Dressing up makes any occasion extra-special. Guys: seriously consider renting a tuxedo. Girls: anything dressy and flattering is sure to please. Sure, your sweetie may show up in jeans, but think how special they'll feel if you made an extra effort to look good. The first time my husband Alex and I planned a romantic dinner at home, he wore his best suit. Very handsome!

Think outside the dining room. Or the kitchen, or wherever you normally eat when you're at home. Consider a picnic in the living room (after confining all mobile pets so they can't share in the feast) whether you have a fireplace or not. If it's warm enough, and you have a patio, deck, balcony, roof top, or just a pretty, secluded back yard, you might want to eat outside. If it's the dead of winter or pouring down rain, think about eating your romantic dinner in the bedroom...

Which, of course, leads to

Menu. Food that doesn't need eating utensils or a lot of napkins is best here. And, for once, I am not advocating that you cook it all yourself - unless you absolutely want to. If you do, check out the hors d'ouvres section of any cookbook for suggestions. Because whether you cook or not, finger foods are your best bet - you're not as likely to get "stuffed" eating them, and, as a romantic gesture, you two can feed them to each other. Here are some suggestions:

Steamed shrimp

Stuffed mushrooms

Oysters

Vegetables with dip

Small pieces of crusty bread with a gourmet spread like bruschetta

Small pieces of very good cheese

Fruit slices

And of course, for dessert, chocolate is mandatory! Consider strawberries or other fruit in a warm - not hot! - dipping sauce. Because if you've done everything right, those fancy clothes you're wearing just might be traded in for a full-body coating of yummy chocolate sauce...

Hmm, I think I need to find a babysitter and crate the dogs. It's been a while since our last romantic dinner!