Agree with Launderess 100%! Cornbread should be salty, not sweet! Also, it should never be "cakey," but dense and firm...ready for a pat of butter to melt into it...or to be placed in the bottom of a big bowl and a coupla ladles out of a good pot of pinto beans slathered atop.
Here's my basic recipe:
Pre-heat the oven to 400, along with your best-seasoned cast iron skillet on the rack where you'll be baking. Put about two tablespoons of bacon grease into the skillet. When your oven and skillet are up to temp, start mixing:
In a large bowl, put two cups of stone-ground cornmeal, one cup of flour, two teaspoons of salt, and two teaspoons of baking powder. Stir this well. Crack in one egg, and pour in about a cup and a half of real full-fat Buttermilk. Stir until moist, adding as much as another 1/2 cup of Buttermilk to get a good consistency. Pour directly into the pre-heated cast iron skillet and bake for at least 30 minutes, until the top starts to get golden brown. When it's done, the edges will be nicely pulled away from the sides of the skillet.
One thing I usually do is add about 4 oz of a sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes. A 1/3 cup each of finely diced onion and seeded jalapeño usually make it in there, as well.