Mandarin Chicken

3 lbs. Chicken pieces
¼ tsp pepper
1 tbl vegetable oil
½ c chopped onion
½ c chopped green bell pepper
¼ c ketchup
3 tbl white vinegar
1 ½ tbl brown sugar
¼ tsp salt
1 tbl cornstarch
½ c caned mandarin orange segments, drained, syrup reserved

Preheat oven to 350 degrease F. Place chicken skin side down, in a medium baking dish. Sprinkle with pepper. Bake until meat is partially cooked, about 20 mins. Drain and bake for 10 mins longer. Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell pepper. Sauté until crisp-tender, about 3 mins. Add ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar and salt; mix well. Combine cornstarch and 1/3 c reserved syrup in a small bowl; stir until smooth. Add mixture to saucepan. Cook stirring until sauce is thickened, about 5 mins. Spoon sauce over chicken. Bake until chicken is cooked through, about 10 mins longer. Add mandarin oranges; bake until oranges are heated through, about 5 more mins.