Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookie recipes

Published: September 2, 2009

Bangor Daily News June 23, 1967

“We emphasize quick service for both the truck and it’s driver” Bangor Daily News wrote on June 23, 1967. “This is the working motto of the new Dysart’s Truck Stop on the Coldbrook Road in Hermon.”

“Home for the Truckers”
According to my Grandfather, Ed Dysart, the truck stop was designed around the drivers' needs. The facilities are provided to make the Stop a “home away from home.”

“The Truckstop, in 1967, offered practically everything a driver could ask for. Naturally there was diesel fuel(4 dual pumps) as well as regular gasoline. There was a 4-truck garage to keep the trucks running in top condition. But the Dysart Truck Stop aims at keeping the drivers as well as the trucks in top shape for long hauls.”

Variety of Services

“For example, if a trucker is hungry he can have a quick meal at the lunch bar while his truck is being refueled. If he’d rather simply relax for a few moments, he may take advantage of the commodious lounge equipped with a color television, phonograph and comfortable chairs. There are rooms for drivers and also showers provided. In addition, there is a store which carries everything from candy to shoes.”

Dysart’s 2009

When you get a good look at Dysart’s Truckstop in Bangor, Maine, all 40 acres of it – it’s a far cry from the 12 stool, 40 seat restaurant we started with in 1967. Our original one story building was a garage to repair trucks, bunk rooms, showers, a store and a restaurant.

The evolution of Dysart’s Truck Stop that includes 7 travel stops, the expanded Truckstop, a full service garage, warehouse, and at it’s heart a 230-seat restaurant came about through good, old-fashioned hard work.

Much of that hard work fell upon Dave Dysart, the big guy of Dysart’s until 1999. He and his wife, Irene, put lots of blood, sweat and tears into making their business go and never were ones to hold back on elbow grease.

When we first opened, David wouldn’t allow the restaurant kitchen to buy peanut butter because he didn’t like peanut butter cookies. He surmised that if it wasn’t in the building the cooks wouldn’t make cookies he didn’t like.

That being said, one of his favorite cookies was Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. milk
41/2 cups white flour
2 tsp. Cinnamon
4 tsp. Baking powder
3 cups of canned pumpkin
1 cup oil
2 tsp. Vanilla
2 tsp. Baking soda
2 tsp. Salt
2 cups Chocolate Chips

Combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, vanilla, milk, eggs, and salt. Cream well. Stir together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda then add to the creamed mixture until flour is blended. Gently fold in the Chocolate Chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a greased cookie sheet; Bake at 375 for 10 to 12 minutes.
If you prefer you may substitute raisins or nuts for chocolate chips for a variety.

Mary Dysart Hartt