Sounds wonderful, growing up I had an Italian friend and Sunday dinners were much the same. If you live in the south part of the USA, it is also much the same. If I hear my mother ask me if i want something else, I'm going to scream!!!
I met my first real Italian family when I was 5' 8" and 125lbs. "Mama! Get this boy some food! He's going to starve to death! What'd the matter with you boy? Don't they feed you in the Navy?" So yeah, I can verify what you say. :)