Yes, we did the same thing, as did our parents. Due to that tradition, there are only two things I refuse to eat ... lima beans and liver.
My spouse and I were lucky we both had mothers that were good cooks. Our children benefitted by having Italian and French cuisine influences. Breakfast crepes were the norm on Sunday mornings. Tourtierre at Christmas. And you can never go wrong with a huge pot of sauce loaded with chicken legs, meatballs and spicy Italian sausage.
#34 Sycophant ... I guess I can't past the fact that it is soaked in lye. Soap tastes terrible, not something I want to eat voluntarily.