New Orleans King'S Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 pkg. active dry yeast
2 tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 c. lukewarm water
4 1/2 c. all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 c. lukewarm milk
1 tsp. grated lemon peel
5 egg yolks
1/2 c. butter, cut into small pieces
2 Tbsp. butter, divided
1 dried bean or pecan half, or small (1-inch) plastic baby
1 egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp. milk
additional butter, for top of cake
sugar tinted green, yellow and purple, about 4 Tbsp. of each color

Preparation

Sprinkle yeast and 2 teaspoons sugar over lukewarm water.
Let soften.
Stir, then let sit about 10 minutes, until light and bubbly.
Mix 3 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, salt and nutmeg well.
Add yeast mixture, milk and lemon peel.
Work mixture together well.
(An electric mixer is fine for this.)
Add egg yolks and beat in well.
Work in 1/2 cup butter and continue to beat until butter is incorporated and mixture is smooth.