As a young girl, Fran Tunno yearned for that picture-perfect, 1960s American mom in a spotless apron, waiting at the door with warm cookies. What Fran got was an Italian American force of nature, shoving plates of salami and cheese in front of friends and family then eyeing them suspiciously until they ate an amount she found sufficient.

When not force-feeding guests Fran’s mom kept busy by entering every contest available (legal or otherwise), cooking, canning, baking, chasing her children with a serving spoon, treating her light-up Jesus like her personal therapist, curing her children with questionable remedies, reminding them daily they were the best, and never missing an episode of “The Price is Right.”

That whirlwind of love, chaos, food, and laughter helped shape Fran’s irreverent sense of humor and deep appreciation for the mother she did get. Her hilarious memoir, Come On Down! A Little Story About My Italian Mom’s Big Dream, is a joyful tribute to the woman who made every day an adventure and normal look overrated.