Vegan Bolognese ?

  Can there really be such a thing?  Typically, a true Bolognese contains ground beef, sometimes pork or pancetta along with vegetables, wine and cream.  Well, I guess I can't have that...or can I? 
  I decided tonight to try a Vegan Bolognese using ingredients I had around the house (using up all the vegetables on past recipes).  The combination was marvelous and the cooking time was even more appealing.  Normally, with a bolognese sauce the cooking time is 3-4 hours.  This sauce only took 30 minutes in actual cooking time and another 15 minutes of prep time (i.e. cutting all the vegetables). 
  If you're trying to go vegan and trying to stay away from too much wheat, this recipe is for you!  I was so surprised how good this turned out, I just had to share with all of you!  Enjoy!

Serves 4

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced small
3 large parsnips, diced small
5 large carrots, diced small
1/4 cup brandy
1 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup water
1 15oz can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Baking flour mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water in
    separate container.
2 tablespoons Italian parsley, finely chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

1) Put olive oil, onions, carrots, celery, and parsnips in a pot, and turn heat on medium-high.  Cook and stir all ingredients together until the onions turn translucent and the other ingredients start to stick to the bottom of the pan.  When this happens, deglaze the pan by quickly adding the brandy and scraping brown bits off the bottom of the pan.  The brandy will cook off quickly so have the vegetable broth ready to add in after the brandy cooks off.

2) After you have added the vegetable broth add the extra 1/2 cup of water and Bob's Red Mill flour and water mixture.  Stir well and allow sauce to cook down and thicken a bit, around 4-6 minutes.
3)  Next, add the canned tomatoes and parsley and continue to cook.  If the sauce seems to be getting to dry put a lid on it, and turn down the temperature to an occasional bubble.  Salt and Pepper to taste.
4) Meanwhile, while the sauce is finishing up, make the pasta of your choice in a separate pan of salted water.  To serve, place pasta in bowls and cover each with vegan bolognese.  Serve with Parmesan for those that don't mind some dairy in there diet.  Enjoy!