Elusive Muffins

Once in a while I search for something new to bake for my family. The idea is to learn something new while occasionally surprising them with a tasty baked treat.
My latest attempt was corn meal muffins. I should say, I've tried twice with different recipes and both failed.
My latest attempt also failed. Oh, they looked good but weren't moist and lacked flavor. Three different recipes, nearly the same results. My sweet family did their best to not hurt my feelings, I can't ask for more. Well maybe I can ask for a full proof recipe. :)