Red beans and rice would be a wonderful accompaniment for fried chicken! Of course, you could also do a raw spinach salad, with bacon bits and sliced fresh mushrooms and a vinagrette dressing. Or instead of the usual green beans, how about a three-bean salad? Harvard beets?
In Florida at this time of year, you may not want a lot of hot food!
You must be a wonderful cook to be asked to prepare your Legion's dinners so frequently! Ever considered relocating to Central Texas (and bring your pots and pans!)?

How about potato salad and baked beans? Both could be made ahead of time and the beans baked just before serving. It is getting a little warm for heavy food, but I have to say the potatoes and gravy sound yummy--gravy's just too hard to make a big potful and keep warm.

I love the beans and rice at Popeye's Chicken.

Now I want fried chicken sooooo bad!

How about the potatoe dish made with hash brown potatoes....Easy to make and really, really good....

Grew up always having English peas with our fried chicken.

How about creamed peas and pearl onions, or just peas and pearl onions. Maybe add some sliced mushrooms.

Easy easy!

Go with the Red Beans and Rice.

How about Mac & Cheese with a 3 bean salad.

dolly

How about dirty rice?

coleslaw or potato salad

You have really come up with some great suggestions. It's just so hard for me to cook for others, as I always want people to really like what I serve. I don't think I would have ever made it in the restaurant business.

With fried chicken, I like a bit of acid to cut the fat, so this recipe works for us.

Coleslaw, Serves 6 to 8

8 cups Cabbage -- finely chopped
1/4 cup Carrot -- shredded
3 tbsp Sugar
½ tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Pepper
1/4 cup Milk
½ cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Buttermilk
1 ½ tbsp White vinegar
2-½ tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp horse radish (I donÂt use)
Use the food processor to cut the cabbage and carrots into rice sized pieces.
In a large bowl, combine the sugar, salt, pepper, milk, mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, horseradish and lemon juice. Beat until smooth.
Add the cabbage and carrots. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.

I belong to a Legion Post. I would say corn on the cob with a crock pot of butter. Boil your corn, wrap with tin foil and put in a cooler. It keeps it warm for a long time.
Cold Slaw and Potatoe Salad are also good sides. But also would the red beans and rice!
Our post ask for sides most of the time. They put up a paper for sign ups.

All your suggestions sound really good. How about some wedges of good fresh ripe tomaotes. Of course with our area we would add some chicken and noodles to pile on those mashed potatoes! :) And don't forget the pie!

Sue

Potato salad is one of my favorites to make for a crowd.

Now............I want your grandmother's chicken recipe!!

:-)