Place squash, maple syrup and oil on the baking sheet and toss to coat squash.
Sprinkle the butternut squash with salt and pepper and place in the oven on the top rack.
Bake until squash is tender.
On another baking sheet, place sliced almonds.
Toast almonds in the oven for about 3-5 minutes.
Salad Dressing
Combine the orange juice, maple syrup, vinegar, oil, spices and xanthan gum in a blender.
Pulse dressing until smooth, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Assembly
Toss kale, squash, oranges, lentils and pomegranates with a small amount of the dressing.
Arrange salad on a platter and sprinkle with cranberries, almonds and pepitas.
Serve with extra dressing on the side.
Notes
1/8 cup equals 2 tablespoons
If you don't have a 1/8 teaspoon, a generous pinch will do.
Here's a video on slicing citrus. You can squeeze a little bit of juice from the orange peels for the salad dressing. You can also candy the peels so nothing is wasted.
Xanthan gum is a thickening agent. It can be omitted, but the dressing will be very thin.