Rickey's Nation: Smiley dishes on fame, food and fatherhood - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

He's a star on radio, on stage and on TV, but there's a side to comedian Rickey Smiley that you've probably never seen – until now!

Atlanta-based DJ Rickey Smiley's four-hour show is heard daily on HOT 107.9-FM and stations across the country.  He's also seen each weeknight on "Dish Nation" on FOX 5.

Smiley – yes, that's his real last name – says he gets his energy from just one cup of coffee a day.

"You get to drinking three and four cups of coffee and whatever, and you started getting shakes and you can't go to sleep or you're asleep but you're legs are still awake," said Smiley.

Smiley lives in Atlanta during the week and then heads home to Birmingham on the weekends to spend time with his family. Including the nieces and nephews he's adopted, the 40-something is the father of 10 children; the oldest is 24, the youngest is 11.

To make up for everything he misses during the week, Smiley spends much of his weekend cooking and baking from scratch.

From the kitchen of his high-rise condo in Midtown Atlanta, the comedian showed FOX 5's Portia Bruner how to make some of his kids' favorite meals, from baked turkey wings to the secret ingredient in his mac and cheese (Frosted Flakes?).

"You just have to be open to try new things," said Smiley.

He also shared his secret addiction – Reese miniatures.

His other guilty pleasure -- the view from his balcony, where the divorced father said that he believes in strict old-school parenting, even from miles away.

"I don't play. I'm no nonsense," said Smiley. "You know, I don't do the pants sagging...If you go somewhere  Friday, you're not going anywhere Saturday."

The boy born Broderick Smiley was only 6 when his father was murdered. Grandparents, uncles and church members helped his mother raise him. That's what moved Smiley to take in so many of his friends' and relatives' children.  Still rooted in his own humble beginnings, Smiley is determined not to let his wealth and fame affect his children.

"I'm not gonna allow them to have all these high expectations. They don't tell jokes. They don't get up and do radio every morning," said Smiley. "I take them to Wal-Mart and buy their clothes like everybody else."

The comedian, actor, show host and father has quite a juggling act on his hands, but smiling through it all, Rickey Smiley says he wouldn't have it any other way -- Frosted Flakes and all.