Ice Cream with Figs Poached in Port and Star Anise

Name: Ice Cream with Figs Poached in Port and Star Anise
Yield: Makes 8 Servings
Ingredients: 1 750-mL bottle tawny Port; 2 cups water; 16 dried Calimyma figs, stemmed, each cut into 8 wedges; 1 cup sugar; 2 whole star anise*; 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise; 8 4x1/2-inch strips lemon peel (yellow part only; from 2 lemons), removed with vegetable peeler; 3 pints vanilla ice cream