Ablam bir yandan sütlaç yapıyor, bir yandan yeğenimi izliyor.

Ablam = abla + -m

• abla = older sister
• -m = my

So ablam means my older sister.

This is important because abla specifically refers to an older sister, not just any sister. Turkish often uses special family words for older siblings:

• abla = older sister
• abi / ağabey = older brother

The possessive is attached directly to the noun instead of being written as a separate word.

This is a very common pattern for saying that two things are happening at the same time.

So:

• bir yandan sütlaç yapıyor
• bir yandan yeğenimi izliyor

means she is doing one thing while also doing another thing.

A natural English idea is:

• while making rice pudding, she is also watching my niece/nephew
• she's making rice pudding and at the same time watching my niece/nephew

It often gives a sense of multitasking.

Yandan comes from:

• yan = side
• -dan = from

So literally, bir yandan is something like from one side. But in this expression, it is idiomatic. You usually should not translate it word for word.

The full pattern bir yandan ... bir yandan ... is best learned as a set expression meaning:

• on the one hand ... while on the other hand ...
• or more naturally here, while also ... / at the same time ...

Both are in the present continuous (also called the progressive).

• yapıyor = is making / is doing
• izliyor = is watching

The Turkish suffix here is -iyor / -ıyor / -uyor / -üyor, depending on vowel harmony.

This tense is used for actions happening:

• right now
• around now
• sometimes in the near future or for ongoing situations, depending on context

In this sentence, it clearly means she is doing both actions currently.

Because sütlaç here is an indefinite/non-specific direct object.

In Turkish, a direct object often:

• has no accusative ending if it is indefinite/non-specific
• takes the accusative if it is specific/definite

So:

• sütlaç yapıyor = she is making rice pudding / making some rice pudding
• sütlacı yapıyor would mean something more like she is making the rice pudding — a specific one already known from context

With food names, the bare form is very common:

• çorba yapıyor
• kahve yapıyor
• pasta yapıyor

Because it is a definite direct object.

Breakdown:

• yeğenim = my niece/nephew
• yeğenimi = my niece/nephew
  • accusative

Since my niece/nephew is specific and definite, Turkish uses the accusative ending.

So:

• yeğenim = my niece/nephew
• yeğenimi izliyor = she is watching my niece/nephew

This is a very important Turkish pattern:

• indefinite object → often no accusative
• definite/specific object → accusative

That is why you get:

• sütlaç yapıyor but
• yeğenimi izliyor

It can mean either.

Turkish yeğen is gender-neutral:

• yeğen = nephew / niece

So yeğenimi can mean:

• my nephew
• my niece

You need context to know which one is meant.

This is common in Turkish: some family words do not show gender as explicitly as English does.

Good question. Both verbs can relate to looking after someone, but they are not the same.

• izlemek = to watch, observe, keep an eye on, follow
• bakmak = to look at; also to take care of

In this sentence, izliyor suggests:

• she is watching the child
• she is keeping an eye on the child while cooking

If you said yeğenime bakıyor, that would more strongly suggest:

• she is taking care of my niece/nephew

So izliyor fits well if the idea is that she is literally monitoring the child while doing something else.

Because when the present continuous suffix is added to some vowel-final verb stems, Turkish often drops that final stem vowel.

Here:

• izle- = the verb stem
• -iyor = present continuous suffix

Together:

• izle- + -iyor → izliyor

So the e disappears.

This also happens with many other verbs:

• anla- + -ıyor → anlıyor
• başla- + -ıyor → başlıyor

So izliyor is the normal correct form.

Yes, Turkish word order is flexible, although this sentence is in a very natural, standard order.

Current version:

• Ablam bir yandan sütlaç yapıyor, bir yandan yeğenimi izliyor.

This is perfectly normal.

You could also say:

• Ablam bir yandan yeğenimi izliyor, bir yandan sütlaç yapıyor.

That just changes which action comes first.

Turkish usually keeps the verb near the end of each clause, but other parts can move for emphasis. Still, for learners, the given order is a very good model to follow.

Yes, but the nuance is a little different.

• hem ... hem ... means both ... and ...
• bir yandan ... bir yandan ... often emphasizes simultaneous actions or doing two things at once

So:

• Ablam hem sütlaç yapıyor hem de yeğenimi izliyor.
• Ablam bir yandan sütlaç yapıyor, bir yandan yeğenimi izliyor.

Both are correct.

But bir yandan ... bir yandan ... feels especially natural when someone is busy multitasking. That is why it works very well in this sentence.