My problem isn't with the built-in eval procedure but how to create a simplistic version of it. Just for starters I would like to be able to take this in '(+ 1 2) and have it evaluate the expression + where the quote usually takes off the evaluation. I have been thinking about this and found a couple things that might be useful: Unquote: , (quasiquote) (apply) My main problem is regaining the value of + as a procedure and not a symbol. Once I get that I think I should just be able to use it with the other contents of the list. Any tips or guidance would be much appreciated.