If you are sensitive to the flavor of black pepper, or feel that the pepper you have is particularly spicy, start with 1/2 tsp and add more to taste if you like. You can also use white pepper, which tends to be much milder than black pepper. On the other hand, if the pepper you have is mild, or if you just want a more pronounced "kick", feel free to add more than the 1 tsp that the recipe calls for.