Put the dressing ingredients (oil, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, yellow mustard, garlic powder, and salt) into a salad bowl and stir well. (Or if using store-bought dressing, pour 1/3 cup into the bowl, then add the dried cranberries. (This will rehydrate the cranberries a little.)
Wash the kale well.
Rip it into small pieces removing the hard stem.
Put the washed kale into the salad bowl.
Sprinkle with a little salt (optional)
Use your hands to massage the dressing into the kale until it turns bright green and shiny. (This will take about 3-5 minutes. The longer you massage it, the more tender it will be.)
Mix in nuts if desired.
Notes
You can eat this salad immediately or keep it in the refrigerator for a few hours until it's ready to eat.